Memorable Christmas

Since I have been alone, since 2001, I have always had the same family tradition for Christmas Eve (except for one year). I always get together with my kids for Christmas Eve dinner and exchange gifts. One very fun time we had was when we all tried to teach Lindsey how to drive. She had just gotten her permit and we went over to a large parking lot near my office and she drove around the parking lot, and even spent about 5 minutes on the open road. It was a lot of fun and very memorable. The past few years we have been going to a Japanese restaurant where they cook at your table. It is fun and as the kids get older that time we spend together gets more and more valuable. I love my daughters very much and cherish every moment I get to be with one or all three of them. Our first year in Korea, when Jayne was 1, we lived in a very very small apartment. It was on the fifth floor of a walk up. It had no furniture and we sat and slept on the floor. That was ok since Koreans heat the floor and it was warm and cozy. I had some difficulties, it had no shower so I had to take sponge baths, on the unheated enclosed balcony where the toilet was. It had no water pressure in the morning until 10, so we had to fill pots with water the night before. Life was tough, but our family was together and we had some great times! I worked as a tutor for many hours a day, 7 days a week. Christmas didn't have any significance as a holiday so I was supposed to work. I did take that one day off. We had talked about what to get the kids for Christmas. We decided I would get things on Christmas eve at the underground market by the bus station. I worked that day until 9pm. I had picked up the gifts on the way to my last appointment. I got 2 big bags of toys and stuff. I took the subway home and walked home from the Songnae subway station. I walked up the 5 flights of stairs and finally got home around 10:30. The kids, Lindsey and Jayne, were asleep under the tree. They were waiting for Santa Claus. They were so cute. We put the gifts under the tree, next to the kids, very quietly. Then I SLAMMED the door and then opened it as the kids were waking up and yelled down the stairs, "Bye Santa, thanks for coming". Lindsey jumped up and bolted out the door and down the stairs. All the way she was yelling, "Santa, wait for me, wait for me!!". I was smiling and trying to hid my laugh. We spent the next 2 hours opening gifts and playing with the new toys. Thinking of that story always brings a smile to my face.