Annual Christmas Party

Every year before Christmas, my Mom gathers all her employees for a Holiday Party that always has me rolling on the floor laughing. Each year is different; sometimes they go out to dinner, perhaps at P.F. Chang's Chinese Bistro; sometimes they hold a potluck dinner, which are my favorite because I get the leftovers; sometimes they order in. No matter what they decide to do, every year is a blast. This close knit family of crazed Quilters and Beaders come together and reflect on the past year, sharing stories that inevitably have the room rumbling from raucous laughter. 

I remember coming back home after my fall semester Sophomore year just in time for the Holiday Party. Mom was holding the party at our house, and I was enlisted to be "Santa's Little Helper." The time came for the gift exchange, the part of the night that everyone anxiously waits for. My job was simple: Make a game that would involve all of the women to be able to trade gifts without knowing who their gift would go to. Having grown up in the shop and knowing these ladies as if they were family, I made the game simple (or so I thought). I read the lyrics to Jingle Bells and made these rules to the game: Every time I said the word "the," they all had to pass the gift in their hands to the right once; and every time I said the word "a," they had to pass the gift in their hand to the left twice.  I tried to choose words that were common enough throughout the song that it would keep them on their toes and really mix up the presents amongst them. Now, the problem with these rules is that some of the ladies cannot remember for the life of them which way is their left or right, let alone how many times to pass it which way! Not even half way through the game, my Mom is laughing her head off, passing gifts every which way. Susie has multiple gifts in her hands. Emily somehow got her own gift back. Joanne and Hester, being the organized ones, are trying to get everyone back on track and listening. Avelia is just watching this all happen. And once again, the room erupts in laughter. We finally settle and everyone ends up with a gift in their lap. Then, like children on Christmas Day, they all rip open their present. This is where the excitement really starts because these women don't hold back with these gifts. Some of the artwork, for it truly is artwork, that is made as gifts is phenomenal: beaded ornaments, chain-mail bracelets, sterling silver necklaces, knitted flowers, embroidered place mats. The joy on everyone's face is priceless; Holiday cheer is truly in the air.

I am glad to call these wonderful people a part of my family, and I hope that one day I can hold my own Holiday party like my Mom's.