Holiday Hi jinks

We spent Thanksgiving with my sister-in-law and her husband's family. He usually puts on an elaborate holiday extranvaganza, and they go crazy getting ready. After we got out of the opera at 11:45, I had a message from them asking us to come 1/2 early. We were planning on going over there at about 1, but we had not even discussed a time with them at all. I called them back at about 12:15 to ask when they needed us. Now I will tell you that our hosts are night owls. I would feel bad about calling at 10 AM, but would not hesitate to dial the phone at 1 AM. Her husband got on and told me dinner was at 6:30, so please come at 5. I asked him to repeat this about 3 times, and offered to come at 4:30. He told me that was too early. Mike, Mom, and John witnessed our discussion and my frequent "what time? 5????" to him. We all thought it was weird that dinner was so late, but that's what I heard and confirmed.

We got up on Thursday and ate a leisurely breakfast. We went for a walk in the Rockefeller preserve (in the unseasonable 60 degree weather). We wanted to go for coffee, but the shop was closed. We sat around watching high school football. Mom and John were about to take naps. The phone rings at 1:30. It is Mike's sister. She asked me if we went to the parade. I told her what we were doing. She then told me everyone was over, and she was checking on us. Dinner was at 2:30. We primped quickly and bolted out of the door. We got there at 3:30 and had our dinner (we asked them to go ahead without us, and it was fine 'cause there were about 25 people spread around the house and not at a big table). I felt bad since I was the one who called. But I asked and repeated the time over and over and over! 12:30 does not sound like 5 at all! Turns out, he did not remember talking to me. He was really tired and fell asleep on the couch. He wondered why I never called back last night! So, I made arrangements with him, and he talked to me in his sleep! I have done the same thing myself. When I was in my 20s, I flew home on a red eye flight and came home to crash. Weeks later, my mom yelled at me for signing her up for a class at her church. Why would I do that? Turns out I answered the phone and talked to some lady from the church. The lady told mom that I "sounded weird". We had a good laugh about it, and it was fine in the end.

We took our visitors to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty yesterday. We were the tired and huddled masses waiting for our ferries in the cold. The immigration museum was really cool (Mom did not cry though). I guess I am not a New Yorker since I have been to the statue though.

Today, I am staying around while the others wander about. Of course I have my new tradition during either Christmas or Thanksgiving. I have one of the myriad of colds that I have been fighting against all fall.