December 26, 2003

• Christmas Party

  Yesterday we drove the 99 miles up to Huntington Beach to attend the Christmas party given by our friends Pat and Gisela Driskill. We were supposed to arrive before 16:00 so we planned to leave no later than 14:00. Things rarely go as planned around here and I wasn't ready until 14:20. But when I got upstairs, Delia was still in her sleepwear and Cathy was still in bed, sleeping. Delia had done nothing about wrapping the gifts she was bringing (my few token presents were ready) and had yet to start cooking the food she had promised to bring.

  We were going to be late. When we left home, at 15:45, I refused to be rushed. I filled the tank with fuel and drove at a reasonable speed, mostly about 70 to 75, knowing that additional speed would probably result in our being later and that we could never arrive early.

  The drive went well until we reached El Toro, just before the I405 branches off from the I5 freeway. Then the heavens opened up and the rain poured down, the downpour pausing only when we reached our destination.

  The Driskills, knowing us, had planned to serve the meal at 18:00.

  Gisela has an extensive collection of Nativity Scenes that she brings out and sets up each year. I photographed a few of them while we were at the party but Xanga wouldn't let me upload them. This is not even ten percent of what occupies every available surface every year, and the collection continues to grow.

  • 21:05
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