BrianJarrett.com

On December 24th, 2002 we had snow accumulation of maybe three to five inches and the roads were a little slippery. Normally on Christmas Eve Traci and I would go to her parents’ church services but that year, due to the weather, we decided it would be for the best if we stayed home. Since we were going to be home that year Traci and I decided we should go out to eat. I wasn’t even aware that restaurants were open on Christmas Eve. My car wasn’t drivable due to a radiator problem so we took Traci’s car down to the local Applebee’s on Chippewa and Kingshighway.

As we sat there eating copious amounts of food and watching the beautiful snow fall all around us an idea hit me; this should be our Christmas Eve tradition. I never liked going to church service throughout the year, much less on Christmas Eve, and I felt like spending time with Traci on Christmas Eve was a much better thing to do in the long run. After all, family is everything. Traci agreed and our Christmas Eve tradition was born. We decided that when or if we had kids we’d continue the tradition. The rules were simple; there were no rules. Nothing on the menu was off-limits. Whatever you wanted to eat, you got it. If you only wanted desert, that’s what you got. We felt that one time out of the year we could break the rules; after all, it is Christmas.

So last night we found ourselves at Red Lobster for our annual Christmas Eve dinner. Orson has now been through this twice and each time it gets better. Last year we went to the Macaroni grill but this year we decided it would be a seafood Christmas. The meal was great and the service was great. Orson was dressed in his button up shirt, a tie, and a red and white Santa hat. Several of the waitresses were completely smitten with Orson; they pinched his cheeks, rubbed his head, and gave him hugs. One waitress wanted to take him home!

After dinner we got our things together and paid the bill. We noticed Orson wasn’t exactly “fresh” so Traci took him to the bathroom. About ten minutes later I looked across the room and saw Traci standing there with a full plastic bag, beckoning me toward the front door. Orson was standing there as well…without any pants on! Turns out Orson had a major accident in his diaper and it actually ran out all down his legs. We wrapped him up in my coat, lined his car seat with napkins, and then took him home for a bath. He smelled horrible!

Eventually we got him cleaned up and in his pajamas, then read him ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas. Orson went down to bed and then Santa Clause came and brought him too many presents.

All in all Christmas Eve this year was a blast. I’m already looking forward to next year.