And now the season REALLY begins...

Today was our Christmas Open House at the store, which is always the same day as all the other truly cool businesses and restaurants and coffee shops and bakeries in the neighborhood also have theirs. I understand that Santa Claus was in the 'hood, but we only got his elves, which were twin boys, approximately age 6. Their parents are brilliant - they got a day off from herding these two totally out-of-control short people.

We were slammed busy from the minute we opened the doors until we closed (late), and it was all good. I do have a favorite story from the day, though.

A totally gorgeous, willowly young woman came in the store, and she had on the coolest sweater dress and killer stilletto black boots. She had that look about her that makes you think she is too cool to crack a smile - you know the type - pretty but cold.

Well, she was there to pick up a book she's special ordered and I got to wait on her. It was a book about expectant fathers. I offered to wrap, and she took me up on that, and then I handed her the little gift card. After she'd written her note, I took it back to attach to the front, and it read, "I decided this year to give you something that would last forever."

Yep -- she's giving him the book on Christmas morning to announce to him that they are gonna be parents for the first time. When she told me, she broke into a grin, and that cool demeanor just dropped.

I just love the fact that in a small and invisible way that, since I wrapped that book for her, I get to be part of that very special moment.

The other truly sweet moment was a little boy who came in with his mom to get a copy of his 13 Alabama Ghost book autographed by Kathryn Tucker Windham, who is a legend in this state.

I had been given the "job" of sitting with her for a bit as she signed books, so I was able to witness the exchange between them. He had the most beautiful manners -- Yes, Ma'am, No Ma'am, please, thank you -- all of that. When Kathryn asked him if he might fetch her a gingerbread man from the cookie table, you'd have thought she was the Queen Mother sending a knight out a search for the Holy Grail. When he came back with it I remarked that it looked a bit like Jeffrey (the ghost that lives with her in Selma).... and she roared with laughter, and said, "Well, now I feel a little bit like a cannibal." The little boy looked at her with eyes big as saucers and said, "Miz Windham? I don't think you can kill a ghost, so I think it's okay for you to eat that cookie."

She laughed long and hard at that one, and hugged that boy, and I'm sure he will never, ever forget that encounter.

I just love being part of those things.

****

In the spirit of the season, here's my entire Christmas Wish-List.

1) An exercise mat
2) The Firm kit with the resistance bands
3) A CD burned for me with a 135 - 140 BPM consistent rhythm, which should be at least 45 to 60 minutes long. Heavy on drums.
4) Warm socks.
5) A warm skull cap.
6) A heart rate monitor/pedometer/calories burned thingy, but I know exactly what it is I want, so don't bother.
7) Shower caps.
8) Ziplock steamer bags. Seriously.
9) Something to use to carry my Nano on my walks. Right now I'm just wearing my old workout pants that have pockets, and I just slip it in there, but I'd like to be able to carry it when I'm wearing something other than those.
10) Funky reading glasses, 1.5 strength, I prefer the plastic frames since they don't pull my hair. Black with rhinestone would be way cool.
11) Warm socks.
12) Warm socks.

If I get the steamer bags and the warm socks, I'm good. ;-)