Shrader: My annual gift has arrived

With the flourish of a FedEx stylus, my Christmas is complete.

As I sat here in The Free Press, slightly nauseous on glue fumes from the installation of our new carpet and struggling over a column that was not coming together, my package arrived. I was a little confused when the FedEx man came directly to me. Was there no one else available amidst the chaos of the office to sign for a package?

Oh! Its for me! I said, looking at it. Its never for me!

Pam, my second mom, had sent me my annual Christmas pajamas.

Its a tradition in her family that everyone gets pajamas for Christmas morning. The theory is, thats the present they open on Christmas Eve. Then everyone puts them on so when pictures are taken Christmas morning, no ones caught in last years ratty nightwear.

Even though I was never there for the Christmas morning unwrap extravaganza, Pam always included me in the tradition so that when I showed up for breakfast Id be in new pajamas like everyone else.

Its the closest thing to a Christmas tradition Ive had in years, and when Pam started asking about whether she should send a package to the office or to my house, I had a feeling thats what it would be. Its nice to still be considered part of the family. The note on the card even said from Mom and all the rest.

When youre single and your closest family is a 20-pound dog, Christmas morning can be difficult. And Im not one to overdo on Christmas for Millies sake. She came from the animal shelter where I was in Georgia and hasnt wanted for a thing since I plucked her out of that cage. Every day is a holiday for her.

Personally, Ive spent a number of Christmases with a number of families and at a number of events over the years. One of the first Christmases I was in Georgia, I went to a Christmas morning service that included a live nativity. Indoors.

Wisely, they had lined the aisles with trash bags before the animals made their debut. It may have been the three wise men who had the biggest impact on baby Jesus more than 2000 years ago, but the camel was the star of this show. He spit once he got up to the altar, causing a trio of pre-teen girls to scream in the middle of the service. And lining the aisles with plastic did turn out to be a good idea as his leavings needed to be cleaned up once the service was older.

Originally posted here:
Shrader: My annual gift has arrived