Is there a way to really quantify what makes the best Christmas for a person? As we’re less than a week away from the big day, and I have absolutely no presents purchased whatsoever. But Christmas isn’t about presents right? It’s about family! But since this is the time to reflect on what’s important in life, I am reminded of my best Christmases ever. (By the way, this might get sappy.)
My best Christmas I ever had was 8 years ago. 2004 was the year and Christmas started early for me. I had just met my future fiance a few months earlier and we were in the “getting to know each other” stage and the “do I really like her” stage. One week before Christmas I wanted to take her out on a date to make sure sure that she knew that I liked her. So we did. I took her out the last night before she went back home for the Christmas break. we went out to Olive Garden (I paid of course, a HUGE bill to my 19-year-old broke self) and then we were off to see the Polar Express. Since I’ve been with this same lovely lady for a long time now, it’s hard to remember what it was like on a first date. We didn’t really hold hands, but I tried to put my arm across the back of her chair, and get her to cuddle in with me. Oh the awkwardness of young love.
The final stop of the night was Zoolights. Just about the most romantic thing that two people can do in winter in Phoenix. We walked around together arm in arm most of the night, and only after three trips around the Phoenix Zoo, we finally decided to call it a night. And well, I’ll let my date (from an old online archive) tell her side of when we got back to her house:
“Well, time came that you wanted to take me out on a date. I wasn’t so sure about that, I wanted to go out with you, but didn’t want it labeled a ‘date’ because i knew my feelings for you were off and on. Sometimes i didn’t like you “in that way” and other times I knew that you’d be the best boyfriend I could ever have and wondered why in the hell I wasn’t going after you. We still went out and had a really fun time together and…I loved it. You went Christmas shopping with me, shared my Baja Fresh burrito with me, you hung out with me that last night in Scottsdale, and when you left my place, you gave me a hug that I NEVER wanted to end.”
Well, it didn’t end. Figuratively speaking of course!
But wait! That’s not the only reason this was the best Christmas ever! The other reason is that I didn’t receive a single present that was just mine! Now that may sound strange as to why it’d be a good Christmas, but that year my family decided that instead of doing the traditional buy a bunch of crap that we don’t want to then get thrown onto a pile two weeks later we would go on a trip together. That trip was a 3 day cruise on the Disney Wonder. Instead of going on and on about all the boring details of the ship and trip, I’ll just say that I got a lot more enjoyment out of snorkeling on Christmas, calling Courtney on Christmas Eve, and sharing my first beer with my dad on the balcony of the ship. Christmas is all about family, and those most important to you in your life, so I can’t think of a better one than this!
Merry Christmas everyone! I’m finally in the Christmas spirit!!!
Filed under: David, Facts of Life
