The Native Iowan

Like a post-apocalyptic sunrise, The Day After is slow and tired and a bit wobbly. Unsure, uneasy, even afraid.

The front room is trashed. The once beautiful tree now appears to have been mugged by a gang of San Fran street people. Wrappings, debris, and some presents, presents not for immediate play and destruction, litter the room.

The house smells of cinnamon and ham.

Its 840am. It is hot outside. 82f/ 28c. The sun is bright. The skies are blue. The wind is brisk and warm. It’s going to heat up soon. Going to push the mercury up. I think I’ll stay in with the aircon. Might even stay in my pyjamas all day.

As a grand-daddy (in my house I am a “Papa”) I very much enjoy the wild, frantic fun that unwrapping 1,289 gifts in less than 10minutes brings. Its is a race, a battle, a war… And, I do know what I am speaking of here… little girls cause more trouble grief tears noise and confusion that little boys. Boys just break stuff. Girls scream and holler and cry as they break stuff.

The 2yrold was wide-eyed and hyper. the 2x 7yrolds bouncing off the walls and ceilings. The 2x 9yrolds making noises and confusion commensurate with their size. It was like the cartoon of the Tasmanian devil. A moving tornado of destruction spinning around the room. I sat in a chair, smiling, watching.

I made the “usual” Cmas breakfast of cinnamon rolls. I started midday – the day before – in order to allow my flour to rise and be fluffy and rich. I knead and rise 3 full times. I like to allow the dough to be the best it can be. I had cut and put the rolls in their pans in the eve. At 4am I popped them in the oven. Everyone wakes to that glorious smell of fresh baked goodness…

The house we live in is good for old granddaddies, Papas like me. The downstairs is big, the walls are concrete, the TV fixed to the wall, the floor carpeted, and I can chase the little ones down stairs, close the door and keep the noise from encroaching into my upstairs living area. I also growl and bark when they get too close. Doesn’t do much good though.

We had a family meeting to discuss what and where. Our’s is a family with a Family Business.

I started the biz in 1987.

After the better part of 40years we’re still going good, have expanded in a couple fields, have a bunch of things going on – all the time – thus an annual meeting is good, needed, required. Im pleased and proud my 2nd generation is doing so, so good.

As a kid growing up in a big family I learned early on that Cmas was not about presents. And thats OK but… BUT… presents are good.

I received a great one yesterday…

My family knows me well!

more later

big smiles