Aftermath

 No, Beans not After Trig or Calculus...THE Aftermath.

The Family rejoin was completed Christmas Eve with the arrival of SIL, who had to work that morning.  Since Little J and DIL had arrived earlier in the week, they had claimed the guest bedroom.  This meant the MBD and SIL were using the, as yet incomplete, Murphy Bed in my office.  This would be the reason for the lack of commentary on various posts this week.  

Mea Culpa.  BTW, Sarge, nice touch on the tumbling napalm in yesterday's post, adds a very nice touch of authenticity to it.

Dinner the first night they were home was Pork Carnitas.  For some reason, DIL saw fit to wear this Tee to dinner.  I approved.

Dinner Christmas Eve was Seafood Linguini, as my Italian side always serves seafood on Christmas Eve. This site has a reasonable facsimile to my recipe.  I've been making it so long, doing it in my sleep is easy.  It's the getting to sleep that's the hard part.  In any case, MBD insisted on my opening one of my presents that evening.

I did and this was the result.

The following morning the clan arose around 0600, ran the house out of hot water and departed at 0700 for the 0800 Mass.  The Church had increased the allowed attendees to number 220 for the Christmas Masses.  We figured there wouldn't be too many families with small kids at this particular mass so went ahead and made our reservations.

Now...doesn't that just stick in your craw?  "Allowed attendees", "Reservations"? To go to Church?

Whiskey

Tango

Fox?

Once again...

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The Mass itself reminded me of just why this whole Chinese Communist/Democrat Flu BS irritates me so much.  The Pastor's sermon was quite enjoyable and spot on target for Christmas.  It was based on O Henry's "The Gift of the Magi". It had been quite a while since I'd read it (OK, Beans, Sophomore in HS.  Yes, we had books back then, hand written by Monks but books nonetheless.), but I knew right away where he was going.

It's not the gift itself that matters, it's the sacrifice involved in giving the gift.

So....yeah, I miss being able to go to Mass without having to make a reservation or wear a flipping mask.  

Upon RTB, the Fritatta went in the oven and the gift exchange began.  Everybody was assigned a hat to wear.  I don't know why, but Mrs J started the tradition years ago.  As events played out, I think she's been plotting for a long time.

For some reason, she assigned this as my "hat"

A little history to set the stage,  in my family whenever someone was handed a package and gave it a gentle shake, my Dad would say "It's bikini underwear."  I don't know where that came from, but it was a sure thing when he was in the room.  

Since he passed title of "Patriarch of the juvat clan", it fell to me to continue the teachings of my father.  Hence, if anyone shakes a package, I can be counted on to say "It's bikini underwear".

Now, my Son-in-Law is a pretty smart guy and has well worked his way into the juvat clan traditions.

So....

 

Yep.

All that having been said, he didn't win the "Most Perfect Gift Ever" award.  That will probably have to be retired after Mrs J's gift to both Little J and I.

Source

 He and I are looking forward to a half hour ride each in a Stearman.  Well done, Honey!

At that point, it became time for a "Long Winter's Nap".  Schmedley beat me to it.

Happy New Year's to all y'all.  Keep your chin up, head down and powder dry.  Gonna be an interesting one.