Sat Dec 21

Bobbie and Maddy spent the week attending a multitude of tree trimming parties. They went to Trixie and Greg’s, Charlie’s, Eddy’s and Florence’s. It was already Dec. 21^st and Bobbie was anxious to get their tree up

Bobbie chose a nature theme for their tree and she and Maddy made most of the new themed ornament themselves. Bobbie found some tiny birds at the discount store and was making little ornaments with them. She had pine cones she’d sprayed gold years before. She had weird sculptural ornaments made with pistachio shells and ping pong balls and they made garland with dried orange slices, popcorn and wooden beads. Her accent colour was gold and a shiny bronze colour and she had brown and coffee-coloured ornaments too. Finally, she borrowed the red balls from her mother so they had lots of red balls, birds and shine. It all just had to go on the tree.

Bobbie had no idea what Maddy’s Christmas traditions were but she was not yet three so it wasn’t too late to introduce some new things. She made Maddy a giant Santa stocking out of dalmatian printed fun fur and put a red trim around the top. She would put mostly all of Maddy’s presents in there. Bobbie didn’t like to have presents spread out all over the room. She felt it displayed excess and consumerism. The stocking was the best part of unwrapping presents anyway. Bobbie didn’t have her own stocking but she had a Santa sack that held all her own presents, until Christmas.

They were just getting back from the market where Maddy had actually warmed up to Santa and posed for her picture. Bobbie prepared a cheese and apple snack for them as they weren’t too hungry after the free cookies and hot chocolate at the Motel’s busy market stall. Bobbie was glad it was so popular. She thought of it as the motel’s little gift to the staff and customers of the market.

She lifted Maddy out of her chair and they went to the washroom to clean up. Bobbie changed out of her market clothes into a jean skirt and tights and a sweater which made Maddy want to wear a dress. So, while they were in her room Bobbie texted June. “Hi June. I hope you guys are still coming over to help with our tree, just so you know Maddy is wearing a dress.” Bobbie knew that Suzy would want to wear a dress too. June replied with a heart and see you soon.

Bobbie helped Maddy on with her leggings. “We’re having some people over to help us trim our tree today Maddy.”

Maddy nodded. “Like we helped them.”

“Exactly. We’ve got to have eggnog and snacks I think, don’t we?”

Maddy followed her into the kitchen and dragged a chair over to stand at the island. Bobbie got four bowls down and went dumped a big helping of mixed nuts in the shell into two. She lifted Maddy down and handed her a bowl. “Let’s take these to the living room. I have these nut crackers to break open the shells and these two extra bowls are for putting those shells in.”

They put them down and Maddy picked up a pecan. “Can I try one?”

It figures she would pick the nut with the pink shell. Bobbie took it and sat on the edge of the chair and cracked it open. She knew Maddy was not allergic to nuts so she brushed off the shell into the empty bowl and handed her the nut.

Maddy held it gingerly and took a bite. She chewed a minute and then smiled and popped it in her mouth. “It’s good.”

They went back to the kitchen and began preparing the eggnog. Maddy counted the eggs as Bobbie cracked them into the pan and then helped her measure the sugar and a pinch of xanthan gum, for texture. Then, a pinch of cloves and a pinch of nutmeg for flavour. Bobbie mixed them all together and added some milk and heated the mixture in a double boiler, whisking until it was quite thick. Then, she covered it and put it in the fridge to let it cool. She would put a cup of custard in the blender with 4 cups of cold milk and make a nice eggnog. She had enough for many batches.

She also got some veggies and dip and potatoe chips and put them on the island. There was pop and juice drinks in the fridge for the people who didn’t like eggnog.

Bobbie also had some meatballs in the Crockpot so the only thing left to do was get out some festive plates and napkins.

The first guest was Johnny; he and Marla carried in the big tree. Bobbie’s living room had a high ceiling so they set up the ten-foot-high tree. Bobbie had to move Fossie’s cat tree and some plants out of the way for the tree, that took up a large part of the corner.

Johnny got it levelled in the stand and stood up. “Here you go Bobbie, sorry we can’t stay but we promised Kirby we’d put up our tree today too.”

“That’s pretty exciting to put a tree up in your new place, where is it going?”

“We’re putting it upstairs in the main living space. That’s were we hang out when were not downstairs watching TV. This is your first time with a tree in your new place too Bobbie.”

“I know a lot has changed over this year. I can’t believe it’s jut over a year since Alex died. I kind of miss him today. Anyway, You guys have to at least stay for an eggnog.”

Marla nodded. “I’ll text Kirby.”

“You can take him some meatballs. And some eggnog, if he likes it.”

Charlie and his family came in with Eddie, who’s kids were with their mother this week and shortly after, Jamie, Jarrod and their mom arrived. The kids grabbed their snacks and went into the media room and Bobbie pulled Charlie and Eddie into the living room and asked them to put the lights on the tree.

Charlie groaned. “This takes me back to when we were back home in Cit city. You always made us put the lights on tree then too.”

Bobbie smiled. “I guess you’ll never grow out of it. I’ll get you some eggnog while you get started.”

When Eddy and Charlie did the Christmas lights, they always had an argument about how to put them on. Charlie wanted to go round and round and Eddy always wanted to go back and forth, going right to the back, with each row. They had about 20 strings of 100 lights so once they agreed, they took about an hour to finish them.

Eddy came out of the living room and leaned on the island to get some snacks. “All the lights are on there Mom; it’s your turn.”

Trixie and Barb were there now so they followed Bobbie and Florence into the living room while the guys and kids found a football game to watch in the media room.

Florence oohed and ahhed over all the decorations and they systematically got the tree trimmed. Maddy came wandering in and Bobbie picked her up and directed her to put the tree topper onto the tree. It turned out they had to get Eddy to pick her up because Bobbie was a little too short to get her high enough.

In the end they all came into the living room and agreed it was a very beautiful tree this year.

Charlie and family had to go. Maddy and Suzy begged Bobby to let Maddy go with them and stay overnight so Bobbie went into Maddy’s room and helped her pack her overnight bag. She stood by the elevator by the back parking lot. “Thank-you so much for helping us trim our tree, Maddy call me if you need to and don’t forget to brush your teeth.”

Bobbie freshened her drink and went back in the living room where Jamie, Jarrod, Florence, Trixie and Barb were all sitting around quietly looking at the tree.

Bobbie sat down and her mother Florence cleared her throat. “So, Bobbie, are you all ready for Christmas? Have you got everything ready for Maddy?”

“Yes, I think so. It’s hard for me to make things really special when I have other grand children and I can’t play favourites.”

“I don’t know, Bobby, the others have mothers and fathers. You are Maddy’s mom and pop and grandma.”

Bobbie nodded. “You know, that’s why I need all of you, I guess. The worst thing that could happen would be if Suzy, or any of them, became jealous of Maddy’s relationship with me. But my relationship has to be more for her.”

Barb put her drink down and went over and sat beside Bobbie. “Oh Bobbie, you shouldn’t worry about that. Eddy and Charlie wouldn’t let that happen. We’ll all help you but you can’t be all things to everyone.”

“I know, it’s just something I have to work through.”

“We’re keeping your condo project on track. At least you don’t have to worry about that,” said Trixie.

Bobbie nodded. “Oh, I know. I so appreciate it Trixie, I can’t believe you’re back home and helping me again. I really owe you.”

Trixie sighed. “My oil career was short lived. I found out pretty quickly that a move toward renewable resources wasn’t going to be easy. Some of those guys thought it would destroy their manly identity. They even thought it was too “woke” or something. It was difficult for me to point out the economic truths of it all. Russ came in and gave the first quarter report. They actually digested that. They could see the potential in the next quarter projections, that I prepared, when it was presented by Russ. I’m still working behind the scenes with Russ, but he is the front man now.”

Florence nodded. “That’s unfortunate Trixie, it sounds like sexism to me. I’m quite familiar with it.”

“It’s probably not as bad as what you faced as a doctor in the 1960’s and 70’s, Aunt Florence but I can console my self with the profits from all the shares Bobbie and I own.”

Bobbie nodded and decided she wanted to steer the conversation back to Christmas. She got out her guitar and they sang a few of their favourite Christmas carols and looked at the tree.