Bob and I arrived at the magnificent Mission Inn in Riverside Thursday, the 23rd sometime after noon. Walking down the path, under the beautiful arch, and into the gayly decorated lobby for check in was absolutely breath-taking. I am convinced that there is no better place to feel the flamboyant joy and delight of the holidays than this Inn with its festival of lights.

Our day went quickly. The late afternoon found us setting up the small tree and placing the gifts for Kristi and Linda around it. Our room overlooked the palm trees that surrounded the swimming pool and we watched as the trees swayed in the 30-40 mile per hour winds that had followed us most of the way from Ridgecrest.

Dinner was in the Mexican Restaurant which is part of the hotel. We enjoyed Fajitas and Chicken Mole while the gas heaters above kept us cozy and warm. After dinner, we strolled around the hotel, observing families and friends meeting and greeting each other and we loved watching the small children, simply wide-eyed with awe.

Christmas Eve Day, our breakfast was leisurely and enjoyable. There is a coffee shop on the mall side of the Inn. Memories of excellent coffee and delicious breakfast-wraps made us head that way. We were not disappointed. The weather was beautiful so we sat outside and watched shopkeepers tend to early morning preparations.

Then it was back to our rooms to change to our bathing suits and off to the Jacuzzi for a delightful fifteen minutes of warm, whirling water. The rest of the morning for me was spent prowling in my favorite antique stores. Bob passed the time reading his email and working on the computer.

A quick lunch in our room was followed by more photo opportunities and before I knew it, it was time to get ready for Kristi’s and Linda’s arrival. Bob and I donned our traditional Christmas red and green garb and I set up the buffet we had brought. The ironing board and the luggage rack covered in white towels, became our serving tables and looked quite festive as I filled them with red and green plates of bread and cheese, veggies and dip, sweet and sour chicken, and barbecued meatballs which had been simmering in a crock pot all morning.

Kristi and Linda arrived around four o’clock bearing gifts which we put by the tree in the room and then hurried off to do Christmas portraits. I knew a large Christmas Eve crowd would be arriving soon which would make photo taking more difficult. My timing was perfect. There was no one around the large tree in the lobby or by the fireplace, and we had only a short wait to pose on the elves’ bench just outside the front door.

Linda, Kristi, and I explored the hotel, finding new and awe-inspiring views on each floor before heading back to Room 232 and the food that awaited us. It was a relaxed and warm time and I was so glad to be sharing it with people I love. There was a lot of laughter, especially when each of us took a turn at spilling food either on ourselves, the floor, or both. Then it was time to open gifts and devour the delicious torte the girls brought to share.

Our wonderful evening ended with a walk outside to see the lights and decorations in all their magical night-time splendor. The beauty of the night was enhanced by the spontaneous decision on Kristi’s part that we all take a carriage ride around the block. It was awesome being a passenger in a replica 18th century street car pulled by two very strong horses. The perfect ending to a perfect holiday time.

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This year Christmas is divided into three parts. Yesterday was part one with a visit from Bob’s daughter Michaele, Grandson Dave, Granddaughter Monique and his precious little Great Granddaughter, Arianna. It was wonderful to be able to share our home with them for the day. What fun watching Arianna open gifts. Arianna and I even had some time together doing a duet of Fur Elise. She played the angel keys…the high pitched ones that don’t interfere too much. It was an opportunity for me to get to know Michaele and Monique a little better and I so appreciate Dave’s part in getting us all together. There are special blessings in life and he is certainly one of them.

There are many more photos in the Christmas 2004 Album. Scroll down to the albums on the left and click on Christmas 2004. After looking at the photos, please come back to this post and leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Now it is on to part two with Kristi, Linda, and Joan at the Mission Inn in Riverside. Bob and I will head down there on Thursday and spend Christmas Eve with them there. I am so looking forward to sharing that Holiday Wonderland with my daughter and her family.

The third part is of course with the Bay Area members of our family. I will travel up there on the 26th and stay for a week visiting with Rhea and John Vincent and also with Kym and John. We are blessed by having Jade and Dawn join us. Bob is staying home and working on MOAA business so I will drive this by myself. I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.

I have reached the wonderful or not so wonderful age when gifts do not hold the excitement of past holiday seasons. You, my children, have reached your middle years, are successful, independent, and totally wonderful. For this I am most grateful. Sometimes though I feel I don’t really know you anymore. Sometimes I feel a strong sense of loss. Sometimes, I wish you knew what was in my heart or on my mind. Now I know you are busy and you have lives of your own. Please know that I take great pride in this independence of yours as well as my own. This brings me to the gift I really desire….The gift I would like this holiday season is one of time. What I need this year is more interaction with all of you. I would like the opportunity to hear your ideas, to reminisce with you, to know more about your hopes and dreams. I would like you to hear my reflections, my dreams, and to listen to my thoughts on the past, the present, and even the future. So this is what I want for Christmas. Once a month I would like you to read and respond to one of my writings. All right, I can hear the groans and yes, I do know that you spend all day on a computer and hardly ever pick up your email and that your lives are full and busy. So I am thinking that ten minutes to read and twenty minutes to comment is probably more than ample time to reflect and respond. When this is broken down to daily commitment it is about a minute each day of the month. I hope you accept this request in the spirit of love that it is given. If this is too much, remember I wear a medium size sweater and you can pick it up in whatever color of guilt is popular this season.