On my Christmas tree hang eight special ornaments. Some are lovely; others are sweet; and one is delightfully whimsical. I hang them with affection every year because each ones brings the memory of an annual gathering of 12 women friends for our ornament exchange.
We meet on a Tuesday evening in December at Don Jose’s in Alamo. Like our friendships, the venue has evolved. We started out at a Mexican restaurant in Walnut Creek where Tuesday night was Margarita Night. But because of the special price on margaritas, the restaurant was too crowded and noisy, plus parking was a problem. So we switched to the more convenient Alamo location.
Our ornament exchange is not merely a friendly swap of presents. It can sometimes entail cutthroat scheming as we each try to maneuver to end up with the same attractive ornament. We choose a number from 1 to 12, with No. 1 getting first choice from the wrapped ornaments. Then No. 2 can either choose another wrapped package or, if she prefers, take the ornament from No. 1. And so on. The higher your number, the more choices you have from the unwrapped ornaments although there is always a chance that someone might take it from you in turn–and they do! It makes for a fun exchange. I’d like to say there are no hard feelings although every year we reminisce about the time we all lobbied hard for a beautiful crystal globe, only to have it accidentally smash to the floor as we gathered our belongings to leave.
At the beginning of the Christmas season, I begin to survey the stores for the perfect ornament to bring to the exchange. I prefer simple, colorful ornaments for my tree but most of the tastes seem to run toward crystal. I must admit that the ornament I purchase for the party is not what I would choose for my own tree; I want to have the “popular” ornament, the one that everyone steals from everyone else. As we each arrive at the restaurant we discreetly add our present to the growing pile because it’s supposed to be a secret, who brought what. Of course at the end it all comes out as we demand to know who gave us the ornament we love.
The most appealing thing about the evening is the friendships with these other women. There was a time when we were swim moms together or in PTA or in other activities. But now I see some of them only at the annual ornament exchange. Others I see more often and several are in my book club. But at this yearly gathering, our lives seem to suddenly take a leap. When we began, we had kids in high school. Then it was college. Now our grown children have careers, many are married, and this year photos of darling little grandchildren were passed around. We ourselves change jobs, make moves, and are beginning to retire. It’s a different kind of friendship, the “annual” friendship, but it’s special nonetheless. There is a 1978 movie with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn called “Same Time Next Year” where a couple meets up on the same date each year for a romantic reunion. Although we may catch up in annual leaps, there is still the caring and camaraderie kindled by old friendships, and perhaps the season. And that’s why when I hang my Christmas ornaments each year, these eight are very special to me.
@smallhead:Gopher report
@text: Two former gopher hosts have advised on how to keep the little pests from your garden. Ernest Schwarz, who has lived on Diablo Road for 45 years, said he solved the problem with vibrating stakes run by D batteries that he places into the ground when gophers start to trouble his garden. “They put out a buzz,” he said, “and the darned things work.” He mail-ordered them and recalled the price at about $10 apiece. Online sources are mixed in their praise of vibrating devices but Schwarz said they work for him.
Hal Bailey of Alamo shared his successful methods:
1. Uncover the mounds to expose the tunnels; place rat bait over the top of the tunnel, then compact the dirt back on top. Repeat as new tunnels appear; it will take two to three months to eliminate the gophers. Do not use bait pellets in vegetable gardens, under planting areas or under the drip line of fruit trees.
2. Look for mounds along the fence line, especially near drainage ditches, which gophers use to enter a yard. Dig out these mounds 6-8 inches deep, spread ample rat bait pellets in the bottom and sides of the hole, and replace dirt.
3. For annuals or vegetables: Dig the dirt out about 6 inches, line the bottom and sides with chicken wire, and replace the dirt.
Hopefully one of these works for those of you who have gophers joining your holiday festivities.
