Counting the Days

It was late Saturday night when I received a phone call from my sister.

“Hey, whatcha doing?”

“Not much, just taking Oscar outside before going to bed.”

“Oh, well, you should probably take him out to the front yard then.”

“The front yard?  I never take him out there.”

“Yeah, but you probably should this time.”

Thinking that my sister had decided to stop by for a quick visit, I went to the window and looked outside.  I didn’t see her car so I said, “What gives?  I thought you were here!”

Sighing in exasperation, she said, “Just go outside.”

Wondering what she was up to, I swung open the door to find a package wrapped with a bow sitting on my doorstep.  The card read, “On the 12th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… a book on pregnancy.”

Inside the package was a book (on pregnancy, as you may have guessed – I’m not pregnant, just reading what I can).  This book, in fact:  

It was the first of many such gifts from my sister.  Each day since I have received something different, such as a few of my favorite soaps from Bath and Body Works on day 11,

Fresca (that the CPA drinks by the case) was given on day 10, and yummy air freshener from Yankee Candle (the good stuff) showed up on day nine.

And just yesterday – a warm, fleece blanket, perfect for the cold, winter months.

It has been a such great way to count the days til Christmas – I mean who doesn’t like to receive gifts?  The funny part is that (as her husband pointed out) she’s actually counting backwards, according to the song anyway.  I believe it goes: “on the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…”  But my sister, being the unique and sweet individual that she is, decided to do things her way and count down to Christmas.  Hey – it makes sense to me!  And it’s a perfect way to remember that Christmas is in only eight days!

Eight more days of listening to Bing Crosby singing O Holy Night and having Dean Martin remind us that Baby, It’s Cold Outside.  Only eight more days of looking at twinkle lights on the houses in our neighborhood (I love twinkle lights).  And only eight more days of shopping for that perfect gift for someone special. 

While I can hardly wait for Christmas to get here, I’m already sad to see the season going by so quickly.  Before we know it, it will be time to take down the tree and put away the wreaths.  Then we’ll have to wait another 365 days until the next one. 

But in the immortal words of Scarlett O’Hara, ”I won’t think about that now, I’ll think of that tomorrow.”  I’ll just keep counting the days instead!!