Christmastime Writings,To-Dos,Birthdays &More

Taking part in the Holiday Blog Tour 2011 has been on my mind for the past couple of months. The topic,simple. The date,set. Dulce’s contribution,undecided. I’ve written and rewritten this piece several times now,in my head,in a notebook,on screen,and yet,I sit here two days before publication and have nothing worth sharing. And so I ask myself,why? Why has this piece struggled? Why have I procrastinated? Have I really? What have I been doing? Well,pull up a comfy chair,get a fresh cup of coffee,and sit back for a whirlwind of an excuse. Ready? Here goes…,just give me a minute to grab one of my calendars to orient myself.

So first,approximately two months ago,around the month of August,my family moved to California! This is to be the family’s BIG adventure,spread our wings,meet new people,and share our Tejano culture. The priority,to get the family settled in our new home,become socially integrated,and take pleasure a new Cali life. So,I enrolled the kids in school,registered most of them in a soccer league,found a new place for meditation,found the community library,interviewed new doctors,dentists,orthodontists,auto mechanics,etc.,began making friends,and scheduled play dates. The school year started as a brisk walk and quickly progressed into a relentless run with new family orientations,parent class meetings,completing forms,in quintuplicate por supuesto,volunteer obligations,and building a new community. Good thing I’m such the chingona that I boldly instigating,“Bring it!”

Hitting the family’s stride in November,I felt I could seamlessly insert work on myself. I resurrected my writing,looked for a new project,resumed book reviewing and promotion,attended a conference,and planned an extended family Thanksgiving feast,all the while attempting to maintain the household’s pace. Then,an annoying stumble in the course,a well-intentioned ( I am certain),concerned California residents informed me,via sticky note on windshield,that my Tejas license plates needed to be changed to California plates within ten days of crossing Cali state lines. Let me share with you the enlightening note (with misspelling and all),

“AH7 2289 Texas,needs Califorina Lic. – More than 10 days living/working in California

Reported to state on internet 11-7-11”

Chinnnn! Just when I thought all moving formalities had been accomplished. Really?!?! Deep breath,and exhale.

I struggled through the Cali driver’s manual and the ONLY thing that stuck to my brain is that it is actually 20 days,NOT 10 days! Not that I would be that persnickety about foreign license plates back in Tejas. To the contrary,I would delight in being the first one to spot one and thump my sons playing the “who-can-spot-the-most-out-of-state-plates.” And double thumps for out-of-country plates,which are common in Tejas.

I had the Dulcemobile tested for smog,I scheduled my exam,and on a rainy Cali morning I paid for my new plates and written test. First attempt,failed,miserably! Then after a few prompting words from the DMV rep,and a couple of encouragements,I’m given a second chance. Passed with 100%! So I asked the rep,

“Since everyone has three opportunities to take the test,shouldn’t I take the third test to get a better average of my comprehension of California driving laws? And,can I retake my picture?”

I was politely denied and welcomed to the state of California.

Into the final stretch with the holiday parties,school applications,birthdays and travel. On a school calendar the month of December,for a teacher,is a daunting lesson plan to complete successfully. Between the year-end curriculum wrap-up,winter fundraisers,and holiday celebrations,there are not enough hours in the school day to accomplish all details in half a month. Enter the parent volunteers as classroom assistants,field trip drivers,and bakers for the bake sale,among other school roles. In the meantime I helped my children complete their book reports,artistic projects and school applications for the following school year.

December birthdays are the pits! I have personal experience as my birthday falls the day after Christmas and has forever been shadowed by all the holiday madness. I swore I would never do this to my own child and for my first four babies I was victorious. Then came a surprise pregnancy and birth of my only daughter,in December! Chinnnnn!

I could continue however I am running out of space and time. Most go on to the next to-do… packing. However before signing off I will leave you with a cultural holiday book recommendation. One of that is full of holiday memories,traditions and madness.

Las Christmas:Favorite Latino Authors Share Their Holiday Memories

By Esmeralda Santiago / Joie Davidow

Pub Vintage Books / Random House Inc

Pub Date October 1999

ISBN 9780375701559

$12.00 USD | Paperback

Lastly,I invite you to leave a quick peek (in the comment section) of your own holiday folly for a chance to win your own copy of Las Christmas:Favorite Latino Authors Share Their Holiday Memories. Winner will be announced after my birthday.

Don’t stop here,the finish line is in sight,the grand finale of the Holiday Blog Tour 2011 is tomorrow with Icess Fernandez Rojas of Writing to Insanity. Visit her holiday literary gift for another chance at a Christmas giveaway.

Feliz Navidad!