Rose's "Fourth" Christmas

Blogging Friends.... I hope everyone enjoyed themselves a very Merry Christmas!! Ours was.... Interesting. Which is actually an understatement!! Was it happy? Merry? Yes and yes!! I received several nice gifts.... Some surprises, others asked for!! Christmas 2013 was quite different from previous holiday memories. Allow me to elaborate. The dreaded, nasty, no fun at all stomach flu has been working its way through our family. Which began with my youngest brother--Uncle Michael to Rose--at an ungodly hour. On Christmas Eve. That's right. But, rest assured, he was better and recovered come Christmas Day!! So, "the show must go on", as they say. Everybody else was seemingly "healthy". Thus, my oldest brother, sister-in-law, and twain nieces came over for Christmas gifts, dinner, plus fellowship!! Well. We "got through Christmas" sans anybody vomiting!! Then. The moment I., F., E. and H. drove away, my sister vomited. Next in line was Mom. Then Dad.... I am the only one left. This stomach flu has felt like some raging wildfire, and everybody in its reach are vulnerable trees!! Hunger pangs never felt more comforting....

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
"Rudolph with your nose so bright
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

A blanket of freezing cold wet snow on Christmas is magical. To which I can't but agree. And, truth be told? I hoped for a "white Christmas". Which is very, very, very rare around here. Our last "white Christmas" was back in 2008 during a cosmic seemingly never-ending snowstorm!! 2008!! Every time I sang the lyrics to Irving Berlin's classic seasonal song? I hoped for a "white Christmas". Every time different versions of that song repeatedly played on our radio? I hoped for a "white Christmas". Secretly, I think I even prayed for snow!! But a foggy Christmas Eve? That, in its own uniquely mystical way, is equally magical!! Why? Because Santa "Claws" would--like in the song lyrics--truly need Rudolph's bright, shiny red nose to find people's homes!! And on Christmas Eve? God may have never granted us any snowfall. However!! Our outside world was engulfed in a mystical, magical, deep, thick, eerie fog!! And, as lyrics to "Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" flew through my crazy, never-shuts-down head, I could not help but smile. I love, love, love fog!! Because I am an oddball!! Well, Santa "Claws" definitely had no trouble none whatsoever finding our address!! On Christmas Eve, we open our stockings, a new tradition as of last year. While everybody was digging through them, one by one, Rose acted "needy". She gets that way sometimes. I sorted through mental checklists within my groggy head of what I'd done for Rose. Did I forget something? I fed her. She had been outside. I provided her with attention. Then it suddenly occurred to me. We were all receiving gifts. Rose, in an almost human-like manner, was thinking this. Where's mine? She was seemingly feeling left out!! Thankfully, Santa "Claws" had already thought ahead!! He left Rose some crunchy duck biscuits.... Since the big jolly old dude knows that being a Beagle mix makes her part birddog!! Brilliant, Santa "Claws"!! The duck biscuits were well-received!! Come Christmas morning, Rose's red/white velvet-like stocking was literally bulging with toys and treats!! Rose received three different colored plush Lamb Chops from the old television show, "Lamb Chop's Play-Along", her most very favorite dog toy. Fuchsia. Neon Green. And the classic white. As treats, Rose received some crunchy chicken liver biscuits. Which was awfully thoughtful of Santa "Claws"!! Why? Because, despite my dog treat cookbook containing several chicken liver recipes, I will never, ever, ever bake any of them!! I am not brave enough to stink our kitchen up!! Rose received her home-baked pink/green "marble" treats. And, of course, those duck biscuits!! By the way? Rose likes her chicken liver biscuits. But she loves the duck!! On December 26th, I let Rose choose. Chicken liver? Or duck? Her ebony nose sniffed the un-open package of chicken liver biscuits. Very calmly. But the un-open package of duck biscuits? Rose's front legs jumped up, and she did a little "happy dance"!! Score on those, Santa "Claws"!! Rose has "chosen" duck over chicken liver as her favorite!! Now. As for Lamb Chop? I had wondered whether or not Rose would have a favorite one. First she chewed on Fuchsia Lamb Chop. Then Neon Green. And lastly? White. Like each one were her "babies", and as their "mother", she loves them all equally!! Rose is not playing "favorites"!! However. Although Rose has never been destructive with toys, Neon Green Lamb Chop sustained a badly ripped up back earlier this morning!! Oh well, these things occur. Dr. Mama will stitch her up shortly!!