Saturday, December 27, 2008

I have a number of things I want to write about, and none of them are really connected so this entry may seem a little disjointed. You're probably thinking "Whatever, Tara, at least you're actually writing something for a change." I know I haven't been the most prolific blogger recently.

So I will start with a conversation I had with one of my favorite girls (well, favorite little girls). Caity turned 8 this year and she has been into "High School Musical" since it came out in 2006...so of course she wanted the "High School Musical 3" DVD for Christmas. I asked her about it when I went over there Christmas night, and she looked slightly disappointed when she replied that she had received the HSM video game and Barbie doll, but that the movie was sold out. I said "Well Santa must have had to deliver a lot of those this year; I'm sure it was a popular item on kids' wish lists." She half-smiled and replied seriously, "Yeah...but I just thought that the elves might be able to make the movie or something." I wanted to laugh and give her a huge hug at the same time. I love the fact that she still truly believes and can speak about the elves as if they are real people, working hard up on the North Pole. It's so refreshing to talk with someone who isn't jaded about the outside world, who doesn't fully understand current events or have to worry about anything more than not receiving her favorite DVD on Christmas morning. I hope she has a few more years left of that innocence and that she continues to enjoy the simple experiences that make up a treasured childhood.

This Christmas was special in many ways. I am fairly spoiled by Jeff and my family every year around this time between my birthday and Christmas. People with December birthdays often complain that they are overlooked during the holiday season, but that has never been the case with me. Growing up, my parents always made sure to have a separate family birthday party for me, as well as separate presents (and no Christmas wrapping paper on my birthday presents!) This year was no different, even though I turned 29. Of course I appreciate the attention, but that's not what made the holiday special this time around.

My brother proposed to his girlfriend Sakshi on Christmas Eve at the beach near our house. They came over with my parents to see our tree, and when we saw them coming up the sidewalk, Sakshi exclaimed in a somewhat shaky voice, "We have something to tell you!" Jeff guessed right away and whispered in my ear "They're engaged" but I was in shock. It's funny, I've spent almost my entire life with my brother (minus the 2 and 3/4 years that I was an only child), and somehow I had never imagined this day. That may sound unreasonable, but when he was growing up and people asked him "Are you going to get married someday, Ry?", the answer was always "No way!" followed by a nasty grimace. He went through girlfriends in high school and even in college, but I guess to me I never truly thought any of them would become a significant part of his life. But that was before he met Sakshi.

She is beautiful, and funny, and charming. When Ryan teases her, she gives it back to him like no one in his life ever has been able to (not even me). I think that characteristic has allowed him to respect her. In the past, his other girlfriends or girl friends merely took the teasing in stride and played the doormat role which didn't (and doesn't) impress my brother. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to be ready to argue and to prove your point. He has a strong personality and likes the challenge of someone who will put him in his place. Ryan and Sakshi complement each other in a way I never thought possible. I remember when he first called home to tell us about meeting her at grad school in September 2006, he said: "She looks exACTly like Princess Jasmine from "Aladdin", Tara." And he's right, she does. She's from India, has a perfect British accent (whe she says his name it sounds like "Rine" instead of "Ryan") and they both completed the MBA program together so she is obviously extremely smart. It almost brings tears to my eyes to think of my little brother finding this amazing love...and while I had noticed their relationship becoming serious for a while now, I guess I just never imagined this next step happening in the near future. It has made me realize how much he has matured even in the past year, to make this decision and to want to dedicate the rest of his life to her.

In my head, I can still see Ryan with a shock of blond hair making crazy faces, playing Sega Genesis, holding my hand on the beach when he was 4...I can see us dying Easter eggs, licking cake batter from the beaters, playing basketball, creating a universe out of Construx. I don't always see the 6 foot 5 muscular person that he has become. I can't always comprehend that he is 26 now, with a classy apartment in Charlotte and a well-paying job. But this Christmas Eve I opened my eyes and truly saw all of him for the first time--from the little brother he used to be to the adult that he has become. I really think that Sakshi has been an important piece in his development...I can even see elements in him that could only have been developed out of care and consideration for her. And all of it makes me extremely happy.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Christmas comes this time each year...

I am sitting on the couch staring at the naked tree in my living room. Stockings are hung by the buffet with care (we don't have a fireplace), "The Christmas Song" is blaring through the TV speakers (thank you, seasonal holiday channel!) and I am sipping a glass of pinot grigio. Nutmeg just discovered the colorful light display that is spiraling out from the electrical outlet in disarray (checking to see if they still light up from last year), and I am awaiting Jeff's return home so we can decorate the tree together. Our 2nd Christmas here in our house...hard to believe. Oh, he's back! More later...