Sleeps ‘til Christmas = 6

Gifts Purchased = 0

Holiday Spirit  = 5 out of 10 thanks to an angel

I awoke this morning and proceeded with my ritual of letting the dog out then making coffee and shuffling about until coffee was ready.

I went outside to check out the moon next to Jupiter – probably would have been amazing if I had a telescope – but was still pretty cool.  I wanted to be sure to see it.

Grabbed coffee, gulped some down then into the shower.  Back to my bedroom, started to get ready for work and …

BANG!

Something fell in the house, and it didn’t sound like anything familiar.

You know you get keyed into certain household noises … they have their own distinct familiar sounds.

Posters falling off a wall, the sound of an animal skidding across a table, those suction cup shower caddy’s that never stay cupped spilling all of it’s contents onto your shower floor.  (Worst part of picking up a shower caddy from your tub by the way – spending time figuring out how to get the blade back on your razor and licking the damn suction cups.)

Anyway – this wasn’t an identifiable noise.

And it was quite loud.  I was a tad alarmed.

I was in a towel – and while I’m not afraid to investigate noises or confront burglars or serial killers, I wasn’t doing it naked.

I threw my pajamas back on and opened the bedroom door.

I could see Butters staring towards the kitchen.  There is a dividing curtain between the kitchen and Nic’s ‘wing’ of our shoebox.  She was staring at it.  And looking very uncomfortable.

Then a growl/woof from ‘Butters the brave’.

Seriously – is there anything more disturbing than your dog being disturbed and afraid of a noise whilst staring at something unseen?  No.  No there is not.

I forgot my knife and my pepper spray – but continued on.  Pulled the curtain back and found the source of the thud.

Nic’s air rifle had fallen over in the laundry-room-that-does-no-laundry.

Gawd.

OK, so I probably didn’t need more coffee now that my heart was beating faster, but I got more anyway.

Finished getting ready and came into the living room to sit for a bit and catch some news.

It wasn’t until I was on the couch that I noticed something on our little fake Christmas tree.

My son went to his girlfriends house yesterday for a Christmas Party – I was invited but opted out as I’ve not been feeling well the past few days and certainly didn’t want to spread any Holiday Cheer of a viral kind.

Oh!  Before they went, they made this at our house:

I commented on FB

“Damn teenagers these days!  Leave my son unattended after playing all those violent video games and look what he did with his girlfriend while I was at work.”

(I really am lucky you know – I am blessed with a very good kid and I know it.)

I also suggested that probably it wasn’t a good idea to leave me unattended with a candied house.  I was eyeing the shrubberies with some interest … but, it survived intact.

Anyway!

So – this is what was on the Christmas tree:

I have to admit, the first thought that went through my head was how huge she looked up there.  It’s a tiny little tree.

Then the holiday spirit hit.

How thoughtful!

It was either from my sons girlfriend Chelsea, or my son somehow got it.

Either way, she was placed there while I slept and whether it was intended or not – put happy tears in my eyes and a warmth in my heart this morning.

So, Thank You to my secret angel.

(And Butters, that’s strike two – first you try to eat me, then you don’t protect me!  Coal is in your future.)