OK, I totally missed the deadline of yesterday. You have to admit the birth of the Gordons’ new child is a pretty solid excuse! Onward since the next two will mark the finale, then I can find something more interesting next Holiday Break.
Christmas got a two-peat in the Nineties, first was the spectacular 1995 gift-giving and travel. However, 1996 was on its way toward being a good yet not great sequel. If those years were movies, I would go with the analogy of Star Trek II and III. Contrary to some critics, The Search for Spock is a good film, it just isn’t great and nowhere close to being as awful as Star Trek I and V.
How so? Financially, I was in even better shape thanks to my permanent position at PowerComputing. Owning a car assisted in the shopping department too; Sonia tagged along with me to San Marcos for the Silders’ gift. Post-Christmas plans were going to rock because I was spending New Year’s in Orlando at Jose’s house! What were the odds of Florida’s weather being suckier than Austin’s? Slim. I regret the Silders not attending, I think the cold climate has damaged their brains! Solid gifts and cards were shipped, none were memorable when I’m pressed to state them.
The hospitalization days before the break didn’t sour my checkbook or mood until later. Florida was on my brain too much!
Sadly, it all started feeling like a Pyrrhic victory without my Austin-based friends. Lee moved to Japan, Eiko moved to Houston (we weren’t close anyway and the married guy she was seeing didn’t help), and Gabe disappeared. I had some friends from work, none were close though. Only Sonia remained…she drove me to the emergency room! In 1994, Sonia extended an offer to join her and her extended family in Houston. I had to decline but regretted not going, it could’ve brightened a rather gloomy time. I received another opportunity from her for 1996 and I pounced on it. From then, I always try to visit Houston mainly to hang with the extended Marroquin Clan due to their generosity at many levels.
The celebrating got a semi-start about a week before Christmas. Sonia had completed her finals at UT and asked if I could give her a ride home the preceding weekend. There was some matchmaking plans as well, I was going to be introduced to a Salvadoran woman around my age. Why? A couple months earlier, Sonia told me she a goal to have me “married off” in five years. I replied facetiously to this statement with “Why do you hate me?” The bigger thrill for me was meeting Sonia’s new boyfriend (now husband) Philippe, a real French dude she recently met. I think we hit it off. I certainly liked him better than the ex-fiancé Charles. Philippe didn’t find any of my questions regarding France or his current stint in their Army stupid or annoying. Years later I told Sonia, “Marry this guy, I like him. He’s cool and when you’re not around we have conversations longer than an exchange of pleasantries!”
Once the pre-Christmas weekend wound down, I left Sonia at her sister’s house with plans to return for Christmas Eve. After meeting all four children belonging to Sonia’s two sisters, the gears in my mind began turning. Actually I was probably more stoked about buying presents for two pre-teens and two teenagers. It would make me a rotten guest if I showed up empty-handed too. Here I totally remember. The teenagers Alex and Tony got CDs: Sheryl Crow’s latest and Green Day. The younger kids Jeremy and Sofia received a Fisher-Price toy bus and Theresa doll respectively; Theresa is Barbie’s brunette friend.
Gifts prepared and work concluded on Christmas Eve, I hauled ass to Houston. It’s a miracle I arrived at a decent hour without the assistance of GPS, an iPhone or Sonia in the passenger seat to navigate.
Everybody congregated to the dining room around mid-evening. Ianus (Sonia’s brother-in-law, pronounced Yawn-us) led us all in a toast to the season and upcoming year. I tried to dodge having to drink the shot of anise (or was it ouzu) because unmixed hard liquor and me don’t get along after my first hangover in 1986. No dice. I managed to hold it in without blowing chunks all over the table. Nothing ruins Christmas dinner like a Yankee guest spewing on one’s parents!
Gifts were exchanged before or after the meal. I think I was a success with the children. Last week, Alex (now an adult and married) mentioned those CDs! Sonia’s family gave me a couple things yet I was basking in the hospitality more, especially after her mother Adela invited me to visit Salvador. This did require Sonia to translate.
On Christmas Day, we lounged around the house, snacked and I was introduced to Sonia’s little custom, watching Steel Magnolias. It must resonate with her for some reason, like Slapshot does at the Silders’ home or The Princess Bride with me. Philippe dropped by. He rode his bicycle numerous miles to see Sonia! Now there was an early sign of his dedication. Good thing the weather in Houston was solid and the traffic was low. Philippe’s parents’ house on the way back to Austin so I was I happy to give him and his bike a lift.
Yeah, it was a bummer we had to go home on Christmas Day, no opportunity to have another relaxing evening eating too much. Our jobs beckoned, mine at PowerComputing and Sonia’s with the optometrist. At least I had a short workweek, two days! Then I was off to Orlando. Sonia also had permission to borrow my apartment (the stereo namely) and car while I was partying with Hoser. You could say she had something to look forward to, wheels!
As I wrap up 1996, I think it was unfair to call it lesser sequel to 1995. Sonia and her family pulled what could’ve been a really blech! (or in French, berk!) day out of the fire, made it an enjoyable reflective celebration. Not a time killer as I was awaiting the sunnier weather and amusements of Central Florida.