The Very Merriest to You and Yours

We've attended ten parties, including my husband's birthday dinner and a wedding, in past two weeks. TEN!

I provided some sort of food or drink for three...

...purchased gifts for seven
...dressed up and did my hair for six
...dressed down for two
...didn't even care for one

...and only wore the same thing twice. It was a fabulous cocktail dress that rendered many compliments and several unsolicited comments about my boobs, so really... I didn't mind AT ALL!

That number, however, does not include my husband's office party and some dinner invitations that we've had to regretfully decline due to prior commitments/exhaustion. It's been a LOT, even for us, and we're officially partied out...

It's not that I am not grateful for all of my friends. In fact, I think I've thoroughly covered exactly how very grateful I am for all the wonderful people (and even the not so wonderful people) in my life in NaBloPoMo Parts 4, 12, 15, 18, and 27. Hubby and I love you ALL! We really, really do.

Earlier this week, I found myself exchanging a number emails with a casual acquaintance. I've known her and her family for over three years. They're very nice people and we've always been cordial with one another, but I really never found much common ground between us.

We had been at a party together, where we discussed her recent bathroom remodel. I guess she didn't get to finish a humorous story tied into how much it cost to do (because yes, someone actually asked), so she emailed me the rest of it. That led into a discussion about the punch I had made for the party, followed by an exchange of the recipe, and ended with holiday greetings and mutual "it was great to see you..." Blah, blah, blah-blah, blah, blah.

The next day we received a Christmas card from their family, to which my response was "Oh crap! Are we FRIENDS now?! We don't need any more friends!" Tongue in cheek, of course, but it's become a private joke between Hubby and I.

Unfortunately, Hubby decided to share this easily misunderstandable sentiment with some of our other friends at the wedding of another friend last night. It was met with a chilly response and I just about nudged him. I couldn't say anything though, because not two minutes before I had wondered OUT LOUD (and half drunk), "Why are all the bridesmaids the groom's high school and college friends and not the bride's..." and we were sitting with her family at the time. Ouch!

I was discretely told later that the bride didn't have anyone to ask so... Double Ouch!

I obviously didn't know the bride at all, so I have no idea if this is entirely true, but I can't even imagine a life without friends and our (Oh-kay, mostly my son's) busy social calendar.

I decided right then and there to embrace the this holiday season for what it is, a time for loved ones, and stop being so "busy". All of this celebrating should be considered a pleasure, not an obligation. I should stop bitching on my blog and enjoy it, right? Well, I plan to do just that for the next few days.

Have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, Everyone.

Now, if you'll excuse me. I have Sunday brunch, Christmas Dinner, and a New Year's Eve party that we're hosting to prepare for... Yikes!

My pretty Christmas wreath