Blind Prophecy

My family is in the news again. This time no one has committed felony tax evasion or fraud and it has nothing to do with me doing something gay. My aunt Julie decided to spend what will probably be her last Christmas spreading some joy to her friends.

Last wish: Spread Christmas cheer
By Lana Groves
Deseret News

Carpal tunnel syndrome couldn’t stop Julie Robertson from crocheting hundreds of scarves and afghans for Iraqi refugees and Navajo Indians. And neither could cancer.

Even on her deathbed, the 51-year-old bipolar woman keeps giving. Instead of visiting tropical islands, she spent what friends and family believe will be her last Christmas giving away presents and stuffed stockings to other special needs people living at the Sugar House Care and Rehab Center Monday night. (cont.)

The article quotes from my mom, too.

There’s also video from KUTV. The local Fox channel was reportedly there, but their online story archive sucks. Anyway, we’re bringing Julie home for Christmas Day, so I’m excited to have a real life celebrity at our family holiday.

My mom spent yesterday in the hospital having some follow-up work done on her knee, but she should be home today. My newest nephew, Owen Ace the rockstar, came over the night after I landed and he’s a cutie.

I took my brother Jordan shopping for some last-minute gifts yesterday. By shopping, I primarily mean that he sat in the van playing video games while I ran in to a few stores for gift certificates. We did have an entertaining moment making fun of the (sorta hot) guy walking into Old Navy in nothing but flip-flops, gym shorts and a tank top while the snow was coming down. After the shopping trip, I spent most of the day fixing my sister’s computer (the iTunes library was a mess and eating up almost the entire hard drive with multiple copies of songs). Then, late in the day, Craig and Callie came by to show me the karate and ballet moves they have been learning.

There is no shortage of bad food constantly available here (for instance, there is a large garbage bag-sized bag of popcorn sitting on the table) and I left my running shoes in New York, so I’m going to have a lot to atone for at the gym in two weeks.

I forgot that my family had adopted one of the hell beasts this year. Her name is Schmarmy. She keeps trying to befriend me, but I’m sure it’s just a ploy to get me to lower my guard. Like when I was trying to do dishes and she insisted (as, apparently, she often does) that the only way to drink water is from the tap. As soon as I fall for this “cute” act she’s going to steal my soul and drag me to hell. Cats. Blech. Please notice the little Hitler mustache markings. I believe it to be a sign.

Scooter, the poor dog who has been humiliated by the presence of a hell beast in the house, sensibly stays warm under my blankets as often as possible.

I don’t know what’s on the agenda today, probably more lazing around eating junk food. Unlike previous years, there isn’t a big agenda of extended family parties and social functions to deal with, so I have more free time than I’m used to before Christmas.

We’re likely going to have a trip to the movies tomorrow, but I don’t know what we’ll see. Probably Avatar. I’d check out movie previews to see what else looks good, but the internet is painfully slow on my parent’s wireless network. Too slow for video (and all that implies for my decongestant needs), so it may be a long two weeks.

Filed under: Mi Familia by Jere Keys