Not Really Christmas

We traveled to Memphis to see Elijah for Christmas. We celebrated in a hotel room. It wasn't very festive. There was no tree. No candles. No Christmas dinner. Not even any Christmas movies to watch on the crappy hotel basic cable stations. Christmas consisted wholly and completely of some presents for E. To tell the truth, it was more like a birthday than Christmas.

If I had planned better (and had more time), I would've baked all kinds of gluten-free Christmas treats to take with us. But since I didn't, I had none. It wasn't very festive.

Chip had given me my gift (an Epiphanie camera bag) a month ago, so I didn't have any gifts to open. It wasn't very festive.

We gave Elijah his gifts on Christmas Eve after he got off work, because thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes were forecast for Christmas Day, and we decided not to drive home in that. We checked out early and drove home that night.

It wasn't very festive.

The highlight of the holiday was going to see Les Mis and...crying.

I don't know what Christmas is supposed to be when you're grown, and your kids are grown. I keep trying to imagine what a festive holiday would look like. It was our first year away and of course we wanted to spend it with E. Maybe next year we decorate our new home, fill it with the smells of gluten-free pies and cookies baking, and send Elijah a big Christmas bonus. I don't know.

I just know this wasn't it.