23-27DEC08 - Houma, LA (merry xmas!)

This was our first Xmas with Rebecca and Raymond and we immediately noticed one difference Christmas morning compared to previous ones. Now that they are young adults they don’t wake up before sunrise and ask you if it is time to open the presents? In fact we had to wake them up so that we would have enough time after gift giving to finish preparing the Xmas dinner. We also noticed the difference between the generations in the choosing of gifts. They gave “fun” gifts like jewelry, cologne, and video games; we gave “practical” gifts like pots, pans & vacuum cleaner.

The hit gift of the day was a video game called Guitar Hero. For all you “air guitar” rock and rollers out there, you may want to check this game out to see if you truly have what it takes. Dan found it interesting that over half of the songs are “classics” from the late 60s and the 70s. Rebecca & Raymond also got two small balls as gifts for their dogs, Gracie & Jake. Gumbo the one eyed Jack Russell terrier immediately attacked Jake, took the ball away from him, and destroyed it within five minutes. So much for the Christmas spirit?

In the early afternoon we had Xmas dinner. Frank Garcia, workmate of Raymond’s, came over to join us, like he did for Thanksgiving. Our food must not be too bad, since he came back for a second time.

One of the benefits of moving around with the Coast Guard when Dan was active duty, was the experiencing of different cultures and traditions, especially for holidays. In Southern Louisiana during Christmas you have Celebration in the Oaks at City Park in New Orleans, the lighting of bonfires to guide Papa Noel, etc. But one that you can check out on the internet, are the Xmas music videos by Benny Grunch & the Bunch. Benny and his friends are from a small section of New Orleans known as “Yats” (as in: Where y-at?). Anyway, every now and then they write a humorous Xmas song and then film their own music video. So check out the internet link below and watch how a “six pack of Dixie” becomes a “dix pack of Sixie” on the song – The Twelve Yats of Christmas!

http://www.wwltv.com/holidaygrunch2.htm

Our intention after returning to southern LA was to take small trips now and then and not sit in the kid’s drive way for an extended time. But with the never ending concrete work and refinishing kitchen cabinets, it seems like we were becoming a permanent fixture in their driveway. Anyway we decided that we would push to finish the concrete work and then take off for the Atlantic coast of Florida, before returning to Houma for medical appointments in mid January. Friday and Saturday after Xmas Dan and Raymond finally finished the pouring the last of the 3 by 8 foot concrete sections. So by Sunday, 28JAN (oops! that's 28DEC), we should be back on the road!