The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#271) -- Holiday Traditions

What are the holiday traditions that have shaped your life?

Christmas the previous Casa de Taylor, circa 2010.

Well, like most folks I know, my family travels all over the place during the holidays visiting family. We drive to the the four winds to spend time with my family, my wife's family, and to various other parties, activities, and functions that come with the territory when one has three kids in middle and high school.

But for us, the real fun begins on Christmas Eve. Our tradition is to open one present that night while we listen to Christmas music and drink hot wassail (Lisa makes the best wassail!). After the presents, we'll often watch a classic Christmas special (favorites are Rudolph and How the Grinch Stole Christmas). After that, it's time for bed.

On Christmas morning, nobody is allowed to dig into their stockings or gifts until everyone is awake. Usually my teenage daughter Charis is the last human awake. Then we empty the stockings first before breakfast. One thing we've always done is to take turns rather than everyone emptying them all at once. That way the person opening the gift gets all the attention for that time, and then so one (yes, like a board game). 

After stockings, we typically have a nice breakfast and clear away the dishes before we actually start opening presents. Once we've back in the living room, we read the Christmas story from Luke 2, and go around the group mentioning all the things we're particularly thankful for during the year. Only after reflecting on what we already appreciate do we dig into the wrapped gifts.

At that point, we takes turns again, opening presents one at a time, in a circle, giving each gift and recipient our full attention. (After all, why spend all the time looking for it if you're not going to enjoy watching it being opened?)

Once all the gifts are done, like everyone else, it's time to solve the puzzles that are the packaging and then a mad scramble for batteries.

Perhaps for me, the most important part of our tradition at the Casa de Taylor is that we take turns with the presents, and do that only after reflecting on the good things we're already thankful for first.

But enough about me, what are your holiday traditions?

Update on My Wife

The love of my life. I'm thrilled she's well.

I know I don't usually use this blog to post about personal or family matters, but since several folks has asked for updates about my wife's recent surgery, I figured I'd use this spot to post and update.

Thanks to everyone for the prayers and thoughts over the past days. Lisa is home and recuperating well.

For those who have been out of the loop, on Friday morning, as I was preparing for Dragon*Con, the love of my life and best friend (and wife) Lisa Taylor informed me that I needed to take her to the emergency room for some pain in her side. So, being a good husband, I did. After some dropping off, racing kids to school, and getting my author amiga Elizabeth Donald to MARTA to make Dragon*Con herself, I finally made my way back to the hospital to find Lisa in the middle of an MRI.

When the results indicated an appendicitis, doctors rushed my love into the emergency room and took out the infected organ (I assume to place it in a jar near her missing gall bladder they removed years ago), and admitted her to the hospital.

Rampant drug use and a restful night later, they released her to go home, all better. Well, except for the surgery-related after-pain, that is. But that's what the happy pills are for.

So, long story nearing the end, she's currently recovering nicely and not lifting anything like the doctor told her.

Again, thanks for all your calls, thoughts, and prayers. We both really appreciate them.

The Writer Will Take Your Questions Now (#77) -- Families and Writing

What does your family think of your writing?

L-R: Lisa, Jack, Charis, Evan, ugly ol' me

My wife is actually the person who has supported me through my writing career thus far. And as much as she'd prefer that I make more money at it, she's still understanding and very supportive (as long as I don't let us starve).

My daughter thinks it's cool that I get to travel to so many conventions and that she gets to go with me and that I was able to help her connect with an artist to publish her first comic book story. But no matter how much or what I end up writing, as her dad, I'll never really be cool.

My sons, I guess, don't really think about it much as all, since my writing career is neither a collectible card game nor a video game. (Addendum: After reading this to my boys, they conceded that they do in fact like my writing.)

My parents are supportive, but probably wish I'd write something other than pulp and comic books. I'm sure my mom would love for me to write something Oprah could get behind, and my dad would probably get a kick out me writing something set in the Civil War (providing it didn't involve super heroes, aliens, or zombies, that is -- hmmm... now there's an idea).