A Different Kind of Christmas

It's funny but I set up this story a couple of weeks ago.  When I brought it up to write a lead in, I started reading and thought I must have been depressed the day I wrote this, then I realized it was the story.  What can I say?



Most people love Christmas.  Truth be told by the time December 25^th arrives, I am sick to death of it.  It starts earlier and earlier each year.  When we were little, stores didn’t start Christmas decorating until after Halloween.  Now it starts in September and by the time December rolls around, there isn’t a decoration left to be had. 

I never thought I would be a Christmas grinch, but I’ve turned into one. I think it’s easier to keep with the spirit of the season if there are children around.  Ours are grown and nary a grandchild in sight, so Christmas is just a chore.  Chris still enjoys getting out the decorations, putting up the lights, decorating the tree.  Thank God, we no longer have to go trucking through the snow to chop down our own tree.  I finally convinced him to get an artificial tree.  Wow, I am already tired of this stuff and I am only thinking about what needs to be done.

The other reason I don’t like Christmas is because it is also my birthday.  As a kid I always felt left out. Heck, even my name Meredith sounds like Christmas. Who comes to a birthday party at Christmas? Who buys you a present just for your birthday?  Who wishes you a Happy Birthday?  It’s all about Christmas.  I know, I know, sounds selfish because after all it is His birthday, but when you’re a kid, that just doesn’t cut it.  Now that I’m older, I understand it, but it doesn’t mean I like it.

Anyway, I digress.  This year I thought of a new way to celebrate Christmas.

I bought a birthday present for myself. 

“Hey honey, I bought myself a birthday present already, so you don’t have to bother.” I told my husband.

“Oh yeah!  Great.  Do I have to wrap it?”

His enthusiasm is overwhelming.  I’m not sure it can be contained.

“No, it doesn’t need to be wrapped.”

“Wow honey, that’s terrific.  Thanks.”

“Don’t you even want to know what it is?”

“As long as you are happy with it, that’s all that counts.”

“Oh, it is something I’ve always wanted so I am definitely happy with it”

The day after Thanksgiving is the day Chris loved to go shopping.  He would go to bed early on Thanksgiving night so he could get up and be in line when the mall opened at 3:00 AM and then chase around to all the other stores that were having sales.  He wouldn’t listen when Meredith explained that most of the stuff he stood in line for could be purchased on line for the same price. He always said it got him in the Christmas spirit.  He loved coming home with packages, most of which is stuff he bought for himself.  He left the real shopping for Meredith which thrilled her no end. It was up to her to buy gifts for his mother, sister, her parents, his co-workers and anyone else on their list.  She had another surprise for him this year, she was buying everyone gift certificates.

Meredith usually spent the day getting out the Christmas decorations and starting to bake the dozens of Christmas cookies for which she was famous. Usually, by the time, Chris got home from his rounds of shopping, the house was filled with the scent of Christmas.  Meredith always set aside some cookies for him to nibble on while he showed her the things he had purchased.

When he got home, he was quite surprised to find her sitting in the family room, curled up on the couch reading a book.  There were no decorations, no scent of Christmas cookies.

“Are you not feeling well Meredith?”

“No, hon.  I’m fine, why do you ask?”

“Well, you usually have started putting out Christmas decorations and have cookies baking.”

“I’m not doing any of that this year,” she answered.

“What do you mean you are not doing any of those things this year?”

“Just what I said.  We’re not going to be here for Christmas, so why go through all that trouble.”

“What the hell are you talking about?  Of course, we are going to be here for Christmas.”

“No, we’re not.”

“I repeat, what the hell are you talking about?”

“Remember when I told you I bought myself a birthday present? 

"Yes."

Well, I booked us on a cruise that leaves two days before Christmas and doesn’t return until New Year’s Day.”

“Why would you do something like that and not tell me?”

“I did tell you.  I told you I bought myself a birthday present.  I asked if you wanted to know what it was and your biggest concern was whether or not it had to be wrapped.”

“I don’t want to go on a Christmas cruise.”

“Don’t think of it as Christmas cruise, think of it as my birthday cruise.  I’ve always wanted to do this and you always put me off.  I don’t want to wait any more.  So either you come with me or I will go by myself or maybe I’ll find someone else to go with me.  Make no mistake though, I am going.”

“We are not going on any cruise over the Christmas holidays, and that’s final.”

“Maybe we’re not, but I am, and that’s final.”

Meredith went back to reading her book and Chris stomped out of the house.  She was holding firm this time - she always gave in. 

Neither of them mentioned the subject over the next four days.  Chris put up the outside Christmas lights and then started in on the inside.  He put up the tree and dug out all of the other stuff with no help from Meredith.  He was sure that as the time grew near, Meredith would give in.

Two weeks before Christmas, Chris was starting to get worried.  Meredith was staying firm on her decision to go on that cruise.  He called to enlist the help of their daughter who always spent Christmas with them.

“Dad, Mom knows we won’t be there this year.  David’s mom said after all this time, it was time for us to spend Christmas with them so we decided to fly to Idaho for the holidays, spend time with his folks and get in some skiing. Didn’t Mom tell you?”

“She might have, I don’t remember. Christmas is always such fun.  She hasn’t done the shopping, or cards, or anything.”

“Dad, I’m sure Mom has done everything. I know she’s taken care of us.  She bought us ski passes, and gift certificates for the kids.  With everyone on the internet and Skype, people don’t send Christmas cards anymore.  She wants this to be about and her birthday.”

“But it’s Christmas.”

“Dad, think a minute.  Every year it’s Christmas, Christmas, Christmas.  When have we ever celebrated Mom’s birthday?  Never, that I can remember.  I’m sure it’s been that way her whole life.  Don’t you think she deserves this?”

When he hung up from Kerri, he thought about what she said.  It was true.  He never remembered even having a cake for Meredith for her birthday and yet, every year, she went out of her way to make his birthday special.  The very next day, Meredith received a bouquet of red roses from her husband with a note saying he loved her very much and was looking forward to spending her birthday with just her. 

He had a few more suprises up his sleeve.  He called the cruise line and made arrangements to have a special day for her, arranging for a spa day and a special dinner Christmas night.  He had plans for afterward too.

                                              ________________________

When Chris and Meredith boarded the ship and were shown to their stateroom, they found the room  filled with roses, a bottle of champagne cooling in a bucket and a basket of fruit along with a note from their daughter and son-in-law wishing them a Bon Voyage.  They broke open the champagne, poured a glass and went out on to their balcony as they sailed away from port.

So far, the cruise was everything Meredith had always thought it would be and Chris was surprised that it was so much more than he expected.  He was not ready for how many people wanted to escape being home for the holidays.  They were having a wonderful time trying to do every activity the ship had to offer.  By the morning of Meredith’s birthday (Christmas Day) both of them were ready to sleep in and order room service for breakfast.  Chris handed her an envelope telling her about her special spa day.

“Honey, this is so great.  You really did this for me.  This is the best birthday present ever.  What are you going to do all day while I am lolling away in the spa.”

‘Don’t worry about me.  There are plenty of things to keep me busy.”

This was the first birthday it was all about her and she loved it. Meredith spent her birthday getting a facial, a body wrap and massage, a manicure and pedicure.  Chris greeted her on her return wearing a tux and a Santa hat.  He handed her a present wrapped in birthday paper.

“Open it,” he told her.

She unwrapped the box to find a sexy lace bra, thong, garter belt and silk stockings.

“I hope you will wear these tonight,” he told her.

She was astonished.  This was a first.  He always bought her a Christmas present, never a birthday present. 

“I’ll be happy to.”

“Now go get dressed, we have dinner reservations.”

Dinner was splendid.  It was in the ship’s gourmet restaurant with a special menu, strolling violinists and a visit by the captain.  Meredith didn’t think it could get any better when the waiters came out carrying a cake with sparklers and singing Happy Birthday to her.  All the other diners joined in.

“Oh honey, I don’t know what to say.  This is the best birthday ever,” she started to cry.

He got up, offered her his hand and led her onto the dance floor.  When the dance was finished, they went for a walk on the deck, stopped and had a brandy. She wasn’t ready for this evening to end so when he started back to the stateroom, she balked at him.

“I have another surprise, honey and it has to happen before midnight.”

“ooh, another surprise.  I don’t know how it could get any better.”

Back in the room, he asked her to model her new underthings for him.  She removed her dress very slowly, teasing him along the way.  When it was off, he asked her to turn around so he could see all of her.

She felt so sexy, sexier than she had in years.  He went up to her, took her in his arms and kissed her passionately.

“Are you ready for just one more surprise.”

“Yes,” she said tentatively.

He led her over to the bed.  He pulled her down across his knee and began to spank her.

“Whaaaat do you think you are doing?” she sputtered.

“Why giving you your birthday spanking, of course. And because it’s also Christmas, I am going to spank your bottom to a red rosy glow to celebrate both occasions. Happy Birthday, Baby.

                        Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Ray and I wish everyone a wonderful holiday.  Hope Santa brings everyone of you everything on your wish list.  See you later for more Aimless Ramblings.