Loose Leaf Notes

Our Christmas Eve Neighborhood Yankee Swap made some records this year.  First, it was the smallest attended party that we’ve had since we started doing it, about 20 years ago.

Secondly, although there were only nine of us, I had five different presents throughout the swap!

There were three first-timers, a plate of No Pipeline/Skull and Crossbones cookies and Sufjan Stevens playing “That was the Worst Christmas Ever” on the stereo.

Besides the loose tea, pottery mug and chocolates from the Chocolate Lounge in Asheville, the highlight of evening was a painting that Mara referred to as Phallic Folk Fake Art.  I thought of it more in the tradition of a Bill Murray Lounge act.

The painting was the first present I opened. Believe it or not, I didn’t have it long because it was such a hit that it got stolen!

There were some first class presents, like this flute that was handmade by our friend Chris, who also brought his baked Christmas specialty that went well with my Kahlua and cream: cranberry bread.

Re-gifting is encouraged in the swap. Chris got a 2015 calendar that had a few dates written on it.  (He joked that he would remind me when it was time to get my hair cut).

Josh got a ceramic sculpture from Jayn who forgot where she got it. It turned out that the artist was in the room!

There was an abundance of good laughs, conversation and merriment.

Then Santa Joe got to work filling stockings for Christmas day!