Christmas parties and disappearing wives

Last night I went to Rachel's Christmas party. She had a ham. And cookies. They were both delicious, though I had too much of one and maybe not enough of the other.

She lives in Stuyvesant Town. I had never been there before and was a little lost getting around. The inner oval boasts a Christmas light display. They were the first I had seen. I'm hoping to have time tomorrow to go up and see the window display at Saks. I had promised Yukwah to go.

Christmas music played on her stereo and Rachel wore a festive pink hat. A small tree stood in the corner and we were invited to put our $10 gifts under it. After dinner there was to be a gift exchange. We ate, drank, and were merry. Once the ham had been cleared and I was onto my third or fourth helping of dessert cookies she began the exchange. We drew numbers. Her rule was that when it was your turn you could choose to steal any of the opened gifts or open a new gift. But if you chose to open a gift it was yours to keep (unless someone after you stole it). I was number six.

By the time it was my turn to choose there were poker chips, a Clay Aiken DVD, a Shakespeare insult mug, a bottle of wine. I decided to open a new gift. I went for the biggest and heaviest gift. It was a beehive mug and a bag of Starbucks Christmas blend. Simone looked at me and said, "I'm stealing that." Two rounds later, she did. I chose to open another present. It was a beautiful velvet box containing an ornament from Pier 1 with snowmen on it. Unfortunately, I have no tree.

A woman told me she bought the ornament at Pier 1 and I could probably exchange it. Later, after the gifts were all opened, one of the guests asked me if he could trade for the ornament in post game play. He had a Henry VII mug with disappearing wives. When you pour hot liquids into it, the portraits disappear. Even Katerhien Parr, who actually survivied! He consulted with his girlfriend/wife; she said yes. I said sure. I went home with the mug.

I made tea for Eric. I served it in small cups. He had brought sweets from Bruno Bakery and we ate and drank. I forgot the mug in my bag. But maybe tonight I'll boil up some water, peel off the protective covering, and watch those wives disappear. Fade away, one by one. Returning slowly as I enjoy my hot beverage.