From the Lady of the House’s sister:
After so many, many years, I think I’m finally convincing people that no, really, I don’t need surprises for Christmas; it’s perfectly fine to give me books that I’ve asked for. I won’t be disappointed! I won’t be bored! Just, please, give me the books!
The Watts book was perfect for a gift — it had been hanging around on the mid-tier of my wishlist for months, but never seemed able to force its way to the front of the line. There always seemed to be something else more desirable when it came time to buy. The Wasserman book might turn out to be more frustrating than I initially realized, but, oh well, forewarned is forearmed.
The glasses weren’t a Christmas gift; I got those a few months ago. Yes, I held out valiantly in my battle with Father Time, but this was the year for buying my first pair of readers. On a whim, I tried on a pair while standing near the checkout in the grocery store and was astonished at how clear the text looked on my prescription bag. The Lady of the House says they make me look “distinguished,” which I’m pretty sure is a euphemistic synonym for “old.”
Merry Christmas to all of you, and thanks for choosing to waste your valuable time reading here!