Mom's Version of Torrey's Questionnaire

I love getting those questionnaires that make you think about what you like, what you don't like, and answering them. Makes me think. Well, Torrey put her answers up for this Christmas questionnaire on her blog, and so -- hey -- me too! Me too!! If you hate questionnaires, skip this one.
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Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your family and friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it toyou......Tis the Season to be NICE


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper mostly because I can get it real cheap at Costco or from The Lakeside Collection. But bags are SO easy!!

2. Real tree or Artificial? I grew up with real trees, and for the first 30+ years of our married life we had a real tree. But then I got tired of cleaning up the needles and having to turn off the lights when we went out and having to water it....so....we have a fake one. We succumbed.

3. When do you put up the tree? Thanksgiving morning. We used to do it the week before Christmas, on the 18th, but since getting the artificial one, we can put it up early and take it down late and there is no danger of fire. We do all our decorating then. This year we got the C'mas china out early and have a few decorations up. Won't take as long on T'giving Day then.

4. When do you take the tree down? Depends on who is home now. I'd love to leave it up until 12th night (January 6), but this year, we'll take it down on New Year's Day, most likely, since we are going on a cruise in early January.

5. Do you like eggnog? I haven't had it in so many years, I don't know....

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Yes, Torrey, you got way too many gifts as a kid!! When I was 5, we lived in Ireland, and had no money. My father made a wagon for me out of an apple crate and some wheels he scrounged from the dump. My mother gave me a little clothespin that was on a card that said "With love to Janny from Winnie the Pooh." I've never forgotten in, and in going through some things in Montrose this summer in preparation for the Torrey family reunion, I found the clothespin. Evidently my mother had kept it all these years...

7. Hardest person to buy for? I....don't really know. I think my son Tim. Like Bob, he doesn't really have any hobbies, and just how many DVDs can you get him anyway? And this year with him in Africa, it really limits me and stretches my imagination.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Torrey and Jill. I'm forever finding things I think they would like. Besides they are girls. Deven and Laura -- my grandbabies -- also easy to buy for.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. We've had it for years -- can't remember how long. It is kept in a box that my sister sent our presents in when she sent them from Japan (which had to be 1980 or 81). And yes, the manger is put in the little "attic" that the stall has, and Jesus is put in Mary's arms. I've always wondered why every manger scene has him naked in the manger. It was COLD, folks! Have you ever looked at the paintings by the great masters? Half the nativity pictures have him on the FLOOR -- naked -- with Mary dressed in some gorgeous robe (nice and warm, I'll have you know) with her hands in the air.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I always send a C'mas letter in a card. And I do mail it. I probably do it as much for me as I do for anyone else. Then the letter is put in a notebook where I have a copy of all of the cards I sent out (1970 thru 1980) and the letters which started in 1981...

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The old version of Miracle on 34th Street. The spiritual lessons it teaches are amazing.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Anytime in November, especially if I have to mail gifts overseas..

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I'm not sure. I do like Christmas cookies. A lot. And it shows.

15. Lights on the tree? I grew up with multicolored lights on the tree. And we still have them that way. White lights outside.

16. Favorite Christmas song? Parts of the Messiah -- I adore the Hallelujah Chorus, but in our church we sing that at Easter. The nurses sung it to me after Torrey was born though I had it on tape. I would have played it after Tim was born, but we didn't have any electricity. I sang it to myself after Jill was born -- having a baby is such an amazing Hallelujah type of thing. There are a bunch of them. We start playing them on Thanksgiving and play them through New Year's Day.

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We stay home and hope that everyone will come to us.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen..." Are there any more? Besides Rudolph, of course.

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? A bow. I actually made it myself one year. It looked a bit dorky, but to my amazement, everyone seemed to like it, and so....

20. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? Always Christmas Day although the Elves arrive Christmas Eve with new jammies for everyone. We started the Elf tradition when Jill & Torrey were little. Anyone that stays with us over Christmas Eve is "elfed."

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? The traffic, the crowds, and the need to give too much when so many others have too little. And I'll add to Torrey's comment that I really don't like the focus on Santa (OK, so I DO like Miracle on 34th St) -- and the focus away from Jesus.

22.Favorite Ornament theme or color? My favorite color is always purple, regardless of the time of year.

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey (absolutely cooked off the bone), buttery mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cinnamon rolls, pumpkin pie. Add gravy, black and green olives, and dressing made with cranberries and orange juice. However, this is Thanksgiving dinner. Our traditional Christmas dinner which was basically the same ceased to exist the Christmas (2006) we discovered our turkey (I always get a fresh one) was deader than a doornail and, Oh Lord, he stunketh. Since then we have hors d'oeuvres and pick all Christmas afternoon and evening.

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? I want something I can't have, and that is for all three of my children with their families to be home....instead, this year we will be alone. I'm glad Torrey and Chris at least are coming the week before Christmas. Other than that....

25. Who is most likely to respond to this? My sisters

26. Who is least likely to respond to this? Bob. No question about that....