My brother-in-law Lon is just itching to use the homemade gift he got last Christmas–a
pine cone backscratcher.
I am the youngest of seven, and I have 16 nieces and nephews. Eleven of those nieces and nephews have children of their own. One of my nieces has two grandchildren already! As Mike likes to say, “It’s not a family. It’s a nation!”
Buying Christmas gifts for this brood is out of the question. So we pick names instead. But here’s the rub: you have to make a gift for the person you choose.
Today is the day we all gather to open our homemade presents, and it will also be the day Harper meets my extended family. To prepare, I just re-listened to the audio file of the “Going Home” lecture we heard in class earlier this week. An excerpt: There are additional challenges when major holidays occur right after you arrive home. Instead of having some time to quietly acclimate your dog to its new situation, you are thrown into activities and parties that go along with certain holidays. If you have just arrived home, it might be advisable to skip some of your usual activities for this year. If there are things that you feel you must attend, look for ways to take the pressure off your dog- going sighted guide or settling in one spot to allow other people to come see you might be two ways to ease the pressure on your new dog.
So that’s the plan. Mike, Harper and I will arrive late to the party, after everyone has eaten. I’ll find a seat, plant myself there, keep Harper at my feet, stay for the opening of the homemade gifts and then head right back home. I mean, c’mon. Homemade Christmas is an event I feel I must attend! It’s always such fun to, hmm, what verb do I want here? It’s always fun to experience the gifts everyone comes up with each year.
In years past, babies pressed handprints into clay wall hangings, cousins stuffed homemade pillows for gifts, pine cones collected in back yards were magically transformed into Christmas ornaments –and back-scratchers! I get compliments on the earrings my niece Jennifer made me whenever I wear them, and every night I cuddle on the couch under an afghan my sister Cheryl crocheted.
Some family members get into a groove – one brother-in law is a hunter, so every year he has his catch made into a deerhide wallet, or a deerhide make-up bag, or deerhide gloves. Mike Knezovich has gotten into the habit of making beer for the lucky family member he picks. My brother Doug, a jazz trombonist, always writes a song for the person he chooses. I was the lucky one in 2008 – you can hear Doug performing “Beth, Betha, Best” here with his band. You’ll hear a little musician talk before the song begins, so be patient, and have yourself a merry little Christmas…now!
You Christians get to have all the fun. And Finke Nation more than most. I’m surprised that Doug hasn’t composed an anthem and that Cheryl hasn’t crocheted a flag!
Have a great time with your loving family. Harper gets to meet all his kinfolk! And do report on what you got from your secret Santa.
Once again, I was a big winner this year. I mean, it goes without saying that *all* the homemade presents were lovely (but what was Anita’s aunt thinking, making her a GREEN fleece hat when everyone knows, duh, Anita’s high school basketball team color is BLUE…!) but mine was among the prettiest, the most thoughtful, and the most practical. My niece Marsha picked my name this year. She had a friend teach her to crochet, then preceded to make her ol’ Aunt Beth a multi-color scarf. I love the multi-color part – I can wear it with anything. It’s soft, too. Thanks for asking, Benita – I hope to publish a photo of me modeling my fashion scarf soon.
Merry Christmas, Beth (and Mike and Harper),
Please wish everyone in the Finke Family a Merry Christmas for me! We (the Rowans) think about you guys so often and we just never seem to run into each other. When I saw your post, I just had to ask you to tell everyone in the “nation” that I said, “Hi!”
Bobbie
Hello to you, Bobbie and family. Great to hear from you. Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I just listened to Doug’s group playing your song…it’s terrific, even if I had to learn that he thinks you are “politically misguided.” That must mean he’s a Re-Re-Re-Re (just a little bit)—-I can’t bring myself to write it.
I’ll go with “fiercely independent” and charmingly annoying.” In a baby sister kind of way. You could tell he’s really proud of you despite his own political misguidance.
I’ll leave it to my readers to decide which of us –Doug or me — is politically misguided, but Benita, you might find it interesting that even your beloved New York Times found him so–While researching for an article shortly before the 2008 presidential election, NY Times writers looked high and low to find someone, anyone, who was *still* undecided that late in the game. They found Doug Finke, in Louisville. He and his wife are featured in a photo for the article, too:
http://bethfinke.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/my-brothers-indecision-read-all-about-it-in-the-ny-times/
Must say, I’m pretty proud of the “charmingly annoying” tag. Describes me to a “t.” That song he wrote about me always makes me smile. And often, it makes me dance!
The “Finke Nation” enjoyed its time together yesterday. Each homemade gift was opened separately so everyone could ooh and aah at the gift that was made especially for them. Many blankets, pillows, hats, scarves, cups, picture frames, photo books, candles, bottled beer, and toy blocks were among the gifts received yesterday. I think Harper enjoyed his time near Beth oberving this new nation of his.
What a great idea, I treasure the hand made gifts I got from my daughters that they made when they were kids. Still have most of them.
Merry Christmas to you and your nation wide family!
Penn
This post is much, much better than the ones posted the last few weeks. Can’t quite put my finger on it though.
I take it that you had a draw of a person who is still getting their artsey juices to start flowing since you did not mention your home made gift of this year.
Ha! Thanks for the comment, Rick. I was beginning to get a complex, so many folks complimented Mike’s posts while I was away I was worried my blog readers might give me the pink slip.
I didn’t mention what I’d received this year b/c I wrote this post *before* we headed over to Janet and Mike’s for the party. My gift was fantastic — a beautiful crocheted scarf from Grant’s mom, Marsha. The scarf is so soft and warm, and the family tells me it has so many colors in it that it will go with *anything* — how practical! I modeled the scarf for photographers, when/if I get copies of the photos I just might post them here –stay tuned!
Oh, but if you were asking about the gift I myself made, I can’t reveal that yet. We had to mail our homemade gifts to different states, not sure if my lucky recipient opened hers yet…
The homemade gifts sound like so much fun. We do a grab bag in our family too, but
the homemade gift idea never came up. I was the one who brought up the idea of the Secret Santa grab bag and at first I met with some opposition, but now
they like it. I wonder if I should suggest homemade gifts next year? I’ll tell you one thing, the only thing I could probably make would be eggnog or
food, and I’m certain that I would NEVER have a family member talented enough to write a song for me.
You, Harper, Mike and the entire clan have yourselves a merry little Christmas, now, too!
There are gifts under our tree in Minnesota from Aunt Beth and family in IN. We are waiting until Christmas morning to open our homemade gifts. Can’t wait!
P.S. Our winning gifts have finally been sent in the mail. Keep a look out Rick (wink, wink)
Caren: Mark’s gift was put in the mail yesterday. You should probably open it when it arrives rather than waiting for Christmas morning…..just saying….
Love the song – how special and jazzy. Merry Christmas Beth, Mike and our new doggie Harper!
Must say, I am leading a pretty charmed life, having these talented men writing — and recording — songs about me. What a gift!
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