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Waner Shares Her 2007 Christmas Experience
?Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a...well, not exactly. That is, not if you were in the Waner household that night. Someone was definitely stirring, and that would have been me crawling on all fours from my bed to my bathroom, proceeding to throw up for the seventh time, and then collapsing in a state of feverish exhaustion on my bathroom floor.
My long winter’s nap consisted of a series of delirious dreams, if you can call them that, broken up with me either putting on my second hoody or throwing off the multiple blankets and sweatpants depending on which way the fever swung! By no means am I looking for sympathy because I was so happy to be at home for a few days, that I honestly didn’t mind spending some time with my head in a toilet ? hey, that was MY toilet in MY house!
So here I was, quarantined in my room for two nights and one day sipping on sprite, and watching my fair share of movies. Outside of Superbad, because no matter what time of year there is always good reason to watch McLovin and crew, I attempted to prepare for Christmas all by my lonesome with Polar Express, Love Actually, and Home Alone. Aside from the aforementioned and probably too graphically described stomach flu, I was full blown with my sinus infection that I had been fighting off for a solid two weeks at school. So picture this: trash can close at hand alongside my bed, Sudafed and cough drops piled on my nightstand, and my Christmas tree that my mom so festively decorates every year when I come home in the corner.
Enough about my Christmas Eve spent in isolation, let’s move on through the rest of the house. So Christmas time for all mothers is their time to shine. Not saying moms are anything less the other 364 days of the year, but Christmas is really a time to go all out. And let me tell you, Jeanie Waner can run with the best of them.
Christmas Eve last year we went to a fondue restaurant for a change from the typical ham and mashed potatoes meal. Well, this year, not be outdone by last, my mom decided to make our own fondue dinner before going to see the play White Christmas. I, however, was not allowed to breathe outside of the confines of my room, so I missed the all day preparation for this fondue dinner. (Those who know my cooking ability, this is no great loss. I am fabulous at avoiding the kitchen.)
So apparently the dining room table was all set special occasion style, Kenny G’s Christmas album was rolling, and the family (minus yours truly) was dressed all frilly for the fondue dinner. Well, my dad was handling the hot (scalding, scorching, sizzling, HOT) oil and moved a bit too fast and what do you know, hot (scalding, scorching, sizzling HOT) oil all over Tim’s hand. Needless to say, if I wasn’t singing along to “All I Want For Christmas Is You” in my room, I would have heard the commotion. From my window I saw the jeep and my mom and dad peel out of the driveway and my brother cracked the door open to my room to relay the happenings I missed.
Now here is the scene: Kenny G still rolling, fondue (safely) arranged on the dining room table, and the last two family members (bro and sis) dressed all frilly eating their Christmas Eve dinner over candlelight. Oh, and I’m sure the dog had his usual place at my brother’s feet. (Is it obvious which member of the family doesn’t eat his veggies?) After a few hours, Jeanie and Tim made it back to the house and (again, this is all relayed through the crack in the door) Tim’s second degree burns are bandaged up and he is feeling great on some doses of Perkaset.
We have a tradition in our house that the book, The Night Before Christmas, is read every Christmas Eve night. Us Waner’s take pride in not breaking tradition, so that night the family (again, without the germ infested middle child) was cuddled up on the couch with Tim’s hand well out of reach of the fire burning nearby. The phone was put on speaker and I was on the other end on my cell cuddled up amid Kleenex’s, Sprite cans, and Christmas paraphernalia in my bed while listening to the annual reading. All in all, my dad’s hand is fine, and I am able to keep solid food’s down.
Christmas morning I woke up to an AMAZING white Christmas in Denver. The fact that I was in my home, with my family nearby and (just about) safe, was all I needed for it to be a wonderful Christmas, because that is really what it is all about in the end!
So here we are again, back at Duke, with one game under our belt post-Christmas break. This is the best time of year to be a college basketball player because that is what you get to do ? play basketball. No exams, papers, or deadlines make for a much easier schedule!
However, with all this time available over winter break, I have a problem. You see, every time this year I fall in love. Yep, that’s right ? Abby in love. With who, you might ask? His name is James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser and, rather unfortunately, is an entirely fictional character. I fully blame Jessica Foley for my love sickness for she got my sister started on a series of books by Diana Gabaldon starting with Outlander, my sister got Ali Bales hooked, and by default, I was the next in line.
I am on the third book, and seeing as how they are over 1,000 pages long each, I only have time to read one over each winter break. I almost started recommending the books to Britt because they are just that good, but then that would mean someone else would fall in love with Jamie, and, to be frank, I have become quite possessive over him and don’t want to share. If anyone feels this is an unhealthy way to live your life, relax, I am 400 pages from being done. While Jamie will be the measuring stick for any real live man, I understand I must let Jamie go, however, while never fully accepting the fact that he is a Scottish man from the 1700’s solely existing on the pages created by Diana Gabaldon! Just let me have my few weeks, OK?!
Enough on my end, I hope everyone had a wonderful and stomach flu/sinus infection/second degree burns free Christmas. Happy Holidays from the Blue Devils, hope to see you on Thursday when we take on N.C. Central!
Abby Waner
