Well, we survived the holidays.
As I previously wrote in my column a couple weeks ago, my significant other and I hosted his parents and my dad for Christmas dinner this year. And, I have to say, it went better than expected.
My dad refrained - without my urging - from bringing up any of those embarrassing stories from my childhood, our parents got along quite well, and the dinner my significant other cooked was sensational.
Yes, my significant other cooked most of our Christmas meal. I sure am lucky to have him. We did each do our parts, but he was responsible for main affair, so I have to give credit where credit is due.
Beyond the meal, everything else was rather uneventful. We were both feeling under the weather (which turned into really under the weather in the days to come) so Christmas was quiet around our home. Quiet with one exception.
Keisha.
That dog, let me tell you, she knows how to get attention out of anyone.
My dad, he's a great man, but he's never cared much for pets that shed or run around the house. Those ones that stay outside - you know the farm dogs and barn cats - they're fine. But those indoor ones, well, let's just say I was never allowed any pets growing up when I lived with him.
Well it took Keisha all of five minutes to win over my dad's heart. He's spent minimal time around her before, but since he was staying with us, he would be sharing her space which would mean he at least needed to pretend he liked her.
But as I said, it took her mere minutes to have him palm up with more treats than we give her in a month. I'm not sure if he just thought she was funny the way she sat there ever so politely waiting for food, or if he wanted someone to spoil since there were no kids around, but he entertained her by giving her treat after treat, after treat.
Now, Keisha was in doggy heaven. Nothing could beat treats in her mind. She's the dog who sits at her dish, sometimes for half an hour, waiting for food even if she has just finished eating. So the idea of having endless treats at her disposal quickly made my dad her best friend.
Even if he hadn't given her a treat for awhile, she would go and sit nicely at his feet, with her ears up, waiting for him to notice her. Of course, weighing in at more than 65 pounds, she's hard to miss.
Towards the end of his visit, I'm not sure who enjoyed this whole game more - Keisha or my dad. He seemed to really enjoy spoiling her. Maybe he was trying to tell me something.
He wouldn't have been the first person.
We spent Christmas Eve with my significant other's brother and his family. They have two kids and are they are the only grandkids. They're the only great-grandkids, too, on one side.
Now, I should have known this was coming. My significant other and I have been together for longer than most of our other friends, and some of them are already married or have kids.
But not us.
So really, it should have come as no surprise when I heard the words, "You know Lizz, you're getting old. You're biological clock is ticking."
Though it was all in good fun, all I wanted to say was, "I'm sure my biological clock is broken." But you can't say that to your significant other's grandma. It's just inappropriate.
Instead, we made comments about how I need a ring first or that the other older cousin needed to get married before us, so really, we were doing all right. That is until we found out the older cousin got engaged on Christmas Eve.
We walked right into that one.
So, yes our Christmas day was rather quiet (and so was the rest of the week as we were both sick, sick, sick), but Christmas Eve was a bit of a different story.
But hey, it was all in good fun.
