Lauren Clark

Lauren Clark

What a bizarre holiday week...

Posted December 27, 2007

I celebrated my 25th birthday last week. Errr, let me re-phrase...I observed it. The extra texts and calls through the day were about the only noticeable differences from any other day. Well, and sudden signs of arthritis and alzhiemers :) The office, my weekly visit to the radio station and other ordinary tasks. But a shout-out to my great SYNC coworkers...I come back to the office around 5:00 and they have a beautiful b-day cake for me! Singing, candles, pictures...the whole she-bang. And for a few minutes, I felt special.

Later I stopped by Ciao Bacci, our office Christmas Party at Next Level Events, and a Christmas fundraiser at Juanita's. Ended my night just chilling, pretty low key. ;) Oh, and putting the rest of my cake in the freezer for a treat later!

With everybody going different directions in a big family at this hectic time of year, my immediate family decided to have "Santa" at our house Sunday eve. After getting some work done, I zipped down to SW Arkansas, joining my aunt and cousins on the back pew of the church building (I was a little late, but didn't dare skip services...not in my family!) When the "final amen" was said I rushed to the front to join the rest of my fam, and meet the newest addition, Isabel. This is my brother's 3 week old daughter and she's beautiful. Of course. After the usual greetings/hugs and unusual "Lauren, your hair is green!"s (yes, I have some green in my hair...nothing to do w/ Christmas, just wanted something different) we were all ready to head home. Santa made a stop at our house 2 nights before Christmas (*he was very generous) , mom made soup, we didn't take many pictures, one former family member was absent, and I spent 2 hours teaching my dad how to text message. This was a different Christmas.

Monday I rushed back to Little Rock. The "gotta be productive & get stuff done" part of me wouldn't allow just hanging around the home place watching tv or staring at the mini Christmas tree (another difference--where's the BIG tree, Mom?!) Meanwhile, Grandmother goes to the hospital (no, she didn't get run over by a reindeer) We postponed that family party til later (hostess in the hospital? don't think so!) and I planned to stay in Little Rock. I visited a friend in the hospital and I cleaned my house "like Jesus was coming back". And I fell asleep to "It's a Wonderful Life". All by myself. On Christmas Eve. With no Christmas tree or stocking hung (shhh, don't tell my grandma!) This was a different Christmas.

Next morn, I look to see what Santa brought. Yes, though I went to bed by myself, in my 1-BR apartment, and I am 25 (it's a fact) I still anticipated the goods from the Head-Elf. And he did find me! Modeling my new earrings, Mary Kay watch and fabulous Hogs cap, I took pics to document the special day. I finished last-minute wrapping, packed and headed BACK home.

A stop at the cemetery and a cat-nap later, it's time to go to Grammy's (the OTHER grandma--I'm so blessed) I put the rolls in the oven, police the kids, set the table and wait for everyone else to arrive. We gather, hug, chat, pray, eat, open presents and enjoy a good time. With some usual faces absent and a few uncommon faces there, it was a different Christmas. On my way home, I stopped to tour my brother's new house. Well, the foundation of it. It still needs work. But don't we all?!

Arriving home, the parents are already asleep. I'm full of turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie and realize my alarm clock will go off early to head back to Little Rock to work. A few paragraphs of reading by the lamp and I'm out.

The past 6 days have been...interesting to say the least. I haven't shared all of it here. Of course not! But to see my dad texting, 2 hospital visits, meeting a new niece, a little karaoke, a real afternoon nap, and 500+ miles by myself, in less than 48 hours listening to Latture and Venus Mission rocking out were just some parts of my holiday week? I just have 2 things to say...

One: With me, every day is exciting, random and unusual. And two: This was a different Christmas.