I was standing on a kitchen chair while my husband Steven handed me our ‘good china’ dinner plates. “Awesome dinner.” He said as I put the plates back on the top shelf of the cabinet.
“Thanks!” He reached for my hand to help me down from the chair. “Now that Thanksgiving is in our rear view mirror you know what that means, don’t you?” I asked.
Steven sighed. “It’s time to bring all the Christmas decorations down from the attic.” He put the chair back by the table.
“It’s our family tradition!” I cried.
Overhearing what we were talking about our son Alex came into the kitchen. “Do we really have to do that today?” He asked as he rubbed his stomach. “We just finished eating Thanksgiving dinner! I’m too full to start lugging boxes.”
“Why do you question this every year?” I asked as I walked into the living room. “You guys just bring the boxes down from the attic. I’m the one who does all the decorating.” I sat down on the couch and realized with all the cooking and cleaning I’d just done that my back was hurting a bit.
I leaned back against a pillow and put my feet up on the coffee table. Looking over at the Christmas tree that we’d put up the week before, I smiled as I watched the lights reflecting off the ornaments. “I kind of like the fact that we put the Christmas tree up early this year.”
“That was all your idea.” Steven said as headed for the linen closet to get the pull down stick for the attic hatch.
“You know, maybe we can wait on the rest of the Christmas decorations for now.” I rubbed my sore back.
Alex and Steven froze. “Are you serious?” Steven asked.
“I think I am.” I adjusted the pillow behind my back. “The tree seems to be enough of a Christmas fix for me right now.” I looked at the two of them standing in the hallway under the attic hatch. “I’m granting you two a reprieve from attic duty.”
“Really?” Steven said as he quickly headed back to the linen closet to put the stick away.
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” Alex said before he ducked back into his room.
Steven came over to the couch to sit next to me. “I’m proud of you for not rushing the Christmas season.” He said as he patted my leg.
“Don’t be.” I said shaking me head. “I’m too tired to do all that today.”
Steven leaned back against the cushions putting his feet up on the coffee table next to mine. “You’ve got all weekend to get the house decorated.”
“Who said anything about the weekend?” I looked over at him. “It’s going to be the day after Thanksgiving! I’m already running late.”
I got up and began gathering all the pumpkins, Pilgrims, and apple baskets that were scattered around the house and put them on the dining room table before heading back to the couch. Sitting next to Steven again I pointed the the table filled with our Fall decorations.
“And that’s how I’m going to motivate us to do it all tomorrow.”
“How’s that going to motivate us?” He asked.
“I can’t possible serve any meals when the table is filled with all that!”
Steven had a surprised look on his face before calling out. “Hey, Alex.”
Alex came out of his room. “What’s up?”
“We’re getting the boxes down from the attic first thing tomorrow morning.”
Alex looked confused. “Why?”
Steven pointed to the dining room table. “Mom’s not cooking until the table gets cleared off.”
Alex looked over at the table and smiled as he nodded his head. “Nicely played.” He said before looking over at me. “Nicely played.”
I couldn’t help but smile.
Slice of Life 