1. What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? Blaze. Definitely Blaze! I got him the Christmas I was 4. I loved him beyond measure and will never forget coming into the living room and seeing him beside the tree with a single red bow on the seat. Thanks, Santa!
2. What is the worst Christmas gift you’ve ever received? The problem wasn't the gift but the giver. When I was in high school, Icky Grandma gave me a jade tree when we celebrated at her house on Christmas Eve. This was something I really wanted. I sat at her feet in her dining room after I received it. I was admiring the waxy leaves and she was sipping beer from a juice glass -- her concession to my mother's request that she cut down her drinking. I kept saying, "Thank you, Grandma. Thank you, Grandma." She was staring into space, too loaded to hear me. She and I never got along, so I didn't care ... yet. The next day, Christmas Day (!), she called the house. After their conversation, my mom yelled at me. Grandma was furious that she spent all that money on that big jade tree and I couldn't even be bothered to thank her. I insisted I did, but my mom just shook her head. It was the holidays and I'd upset Icky Grandma. The bitch put a damper on Christmas for both me and my mom (whose parenting skills she had brutally critiqued). And for no reason. I've got so many Icky Grandma stories. Hence the name.
3. Do you have a favorite Christmas song? Andy. Always Andy at Christmas.
BTW, Andy sings "Happy Holiday!" not "Merry Christmas." Released for the 1963 holiday season, I guess this makes Andy one of the first-ever woke warriors against Christmas. 😃
4. Does your family have any favorite holiday traditions? Since first my uncle and then my mom died, my family doesn't really celebrate together en masse anymore.
5. What is your favorite Christmas snack? I don't really have one. I just eat like a pig all season.
6. Did you believe in Santa growing up? Very much.
7. How early do you start decorating? I put my decorations up last week. I have a small illuminated ceramic gift with a green ribbon on the coffee table, cards taped to the front door, a Santa hanging off the door knob (my side) and a penguin with a scarf waving at people who pass my front door.
8. Are you an early or last-minute shopper? I'm a perpetual shopper. I buy things as I come upon them throughout the year.
9. Would you rather give or receive gifts? They each have their charms.
10. What’s your favorite Christmas movie? Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. It's a short but remarkably faithful retelling with great songs. You can find it free on YouTube and you can stream it, too. The finale is my favorite song.
11. What is one of your Christmas memories? This is the view from our Christmas lunch, 2021. My last Key West Christmas with my wonderful friend, Henry.
12. Do you open any presents on Christmas Eve? I have one sitting here from my oldest friend. This is an amazing occurrence because she is never early! I can tell by the box that it's a book from Amazon. I may open it on Christmas Eve or maybe Christmas Day. I haven't decided.
