This weekend is our Wedding Anniversary weekend!  We decided we would celebrate our anniversary on the Saturday after Christmas.  I know it’s a bit odd, but that happens to be the weekend that falls between our two major wedding events. On this day last year, we had our wedding reception.  However, we were officially married on Jan. 9th the year before.  Luckily, because these dates are so close, there will always be a weekend between them where we can celebrate our special day(s).  We don’t do anything normal in this family.

Some wedding shots: 

Look how tiny she was!!

(Piper I mean, although the same could be said for me. I doubt I could fit in that dress and still be able breath!)

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful family!

And Happy New Year to all of you!!!

Shwew! It’s officially all over.  Even the exchanges are now done. And, it was perfect! Better than expected, in fact.  Everyone was thrilled to high heavens with their gifts and goodies, including Piper, who played with every toy Santa left her for hours until she passed out in a heap of exhaustion.  Piper also handed out her very own special gifts of ear to ear grins and new words spoken in that cute angel voice. 

So, considering all the hectic preparations, the insane running around and the dent in our budget… I wouldn’t have changed a thing. Except, maybe the tinsel.  Next year, no angel hair tinsel.  It ends up everywhere. As pretty as it looks hanging on the tree just doesn’t compare to how disgusting it is when attached to a turd dangling from your cat’s ass.  I guess shiny silver strings are tempting to eat when your brain is the size of a peach pit.

But, hey, on a good note… I just found out I am not on call for New Year’s eve.  I sense some social drinking on the horizon. After all, I am still in therapy!

Hope your holiday was magical and this New Year is the best one ever!

“For unto us a child is born…”

And so brings the magic and spirit of Christmas into this house like never before.  With every ooh, aah, wow and yeah, the spirit of Christmas reigns agains.  Every smile and look of awe brings new meaning the words we have mechanically sung for decades.

Joyous. Faithful. Triumphant. Glorious.

I feel like a ten year old kid again, anxiously waiting for tomorrow to come. I am tingling inside at the thought of waking up and brining her down those stairs. At the thought of watching her face light up brighter than our Christmas tree.  It’s not about the toys or the presents or the gifts. She knows nothing about those things. Yet she senses that something special is going on here and the purity of her joyous state is contagious. She takes in every ounce of good will and pours out pounds of it in return, completely faithful in her fellow man.  She claps with renewed excitement at every tacky and cheesy decoration she sees, triumphant in transforming my cynicism into her glee.  She cheers with sheer happiness at every relative and friend that comes through the door, reminding me just how glorious it is to have boundless love to give.

So this is Christmas.

It is official. I am certifiable. My therapist diagnosed me this week with Holiday Histrionic Disorder. Having worked in the Mental Health arena for many years, I was surprised by this news. I had never heard of this particular disorder. Apparently, it is a new addition, recently added to the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual.  Because I value my doctor’s opinion, I have been following her orders and taking my treatment very seriously, especially the at home treatments.

Here is the information my doctor gave me regarding my new condition:

Holiday Histrionic Disorder

Overview: Anxiety based disorder specifically related to the end of each calendar year, lasting for a relatively short period of time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Symptoms intensify as the year closes, and often disappear completely by the third week in January. Commonly known among lay persons as “Christmas Chaos Disorder”.

Population: Tends to manifest itself mainly in middle aged married woman of the Type A personality (see personality analysis charts in appendix C).  Although in recent years, numbers of persons diagnosed has risen among the middle aged male population, often divorced males. 

NOTE: There is a direct correlation between the number of children and the severity of the symptoms.

Diagnostic Criteria for Holiday Histrionic Disorder

A. Excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more often and increasingly towards the end of December.

B. General feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness or incompetence. **

C. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of the weather (see Seasonal Affectiveness Disorder), although these two disorders can occur in conjunction with each other, as well as exasperate symptoms.

D. The anxiety is associated with three (or more) of the following symptoms. Note: Only one item is required in children.

(1) feeling keyed up or on edge, with the inability to distinguish between meaningful and insignificant issues (eminent bankruptcy vs. broken tree ornaments)
(2) obsessive concern and worry over lists *
(3) difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, forgetfulness 
(4) impatience, irritability displayed in crowded public places
(5) sudden aggressive or violent emotions (mostly directed towards seasonal retail help and/or significant other)
(6) An intense aversion to the colors green and/or red (except regarding foods or drinks)
(7) constant worry or depression over weight gain (yet patient shows no signs of dieting, often over indulging in sweets and unhealthy foods)

* * These symptoms are the most common ones seen in children suffering from this disorder

Prognosis: Excellent. Patients respond positively to treatment during peak cycles, and often function normally during dormant cycles. 

Treatment: Drug therapy in conjunction with at home relaxation techniques like aromatherapy and social drinking.

Current medication prescribed:  Asitwerejan 2 (available in eggnog liquid or peppermint tablet forms).

Generic name:  Nodecstress X

Black Market/Street name:  Sugar Plums