Second Holland Holiday (2)
We eventually found the car and headed towards his home. I had planned my arrival date of December 23rd so that I would have at
least 1 full day of rest before beginning the Holiday celebrations with his family. On the ride to his home, Marco filled me in on the
schedule of events that we would be following. My gosh, we were gonna be busy little bees, beginning tonight. Sigh, I guess my
one-day of total rest was only a dream.
When we got to Marco's home, the first thing we did was sit down and open the bag-o-gifts. This was awesome because Marco
hadn't received Christmas or Birthday gifts like this for a long time, so I was very much gonna enjoy watching him open them. Well,
open them isn't the right word. Tearing into them would be more accurate! He asked me which he should open before taking one
each time, but I had brought so much stuff, I honestly didn't remember what it all was. I had brought stuff for him, for Winniebitch
(as a peace offering), and for Conny & Jan (as a thank you for taking the time during my last visit to make it so enjoyable for me).
He loved all his stuff. I had gotten him a lot of goofy fun little things, things I knew he would never buy for himself. A Christmas
stocking with a smiley face on it, that when you pressed it would giggle, filled to the top with an assortment of candy; One of those
bass fish on a plaque, that said a variety of phrases through a light sensor; A stuffed animal gorilla that sang "Wild Thing" when
you pressed his foot; An electronic hand-held fishing game; Copies of 3 computer games that I had; A big basket filled with Yankee
Candles and holders (just because I know how much he loves "those damn yanks" hahaha); A sweater; A watch; Hell I can't
remember it all, but there was more than enough to fill the entire suitcase. My mom even sent another type of hand-held fishing
game for him.
Then came to the presents for Winnie, of which she was most unimpressed. I got her a cute little mat to go under her food and
water bowl; A bag of small plastic balls with bells inside; A thing that you stuck onto the window or wall, that had a string at the
end with a mouse hanging off; And one of those circular toys that you put on the floor that has an opening around the edge with a
mouse inside, that when she would swat it with her paw, would circle all around. (That is IF she ever friggin played with it!) Out of
all her gifts, the one thing that she chose to play with, once for about 3 minutes, was a wad of crumpled up wrapping paper. How
sad was this? She didn't even know how to play. Geesh! Although, I have to tell you, it was funny as hell when Marco put his talking
fish on the floor (the one that was activated through a light sensor) and she walked by it. She walked by, this fish moved and talked,
and she went flying through the air! hahaha After that, she wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with anything else.
After Marco was done opening his gifts, he gave me mine. I'm guessing that he had them wrapped in the store, because I don't
know any guys that can wrap that pretty. The first one was a pair of beautiful earrings. And the second one was a bottle of perfume
called Jilsander. OhMyGawd this stuff smelled so friggin good! Anytime I ever brought perfume that smelled this good, it was
always in the little .5 oz bottle. But this was the full size bottle. Whoa baby I was a happy camper! These were wonderful, he did
good!
I have to admit, I was a little worried about what he was gonna get me. Before I had left to go there, he had told me that he
wanted to get me something ummm nice, as in to wear (or not wear, as the case may be) to bed. I plain out told him, "No way, don't
do it, I'll be embarrassed." But did he listen? Nope He went out on a little crusade to find out what my bra size was himself. Within
a weeks time, I had no less than 4 people feeding me these bullshit stories in an attempt to find out my bra size! hahaha Those fools,
did they honestly didn't think I knew what was going on?
I had one telling me that there was a designer store that was closing and had the remainder of their inventory in the back of a
truck near his work. He wanted to get me a nice blouse for Christmas, all he needed was the size. First of all, this man would
NEVER browse through, much less purchase clothing from a truck. So he was busted immediately. But I played along, and just kept
telling him, no thank you, I have plenty of clothes. The second one told me that she had a bet with someone in the chatroom as to
what my bra size was and wanted to know if she was right. (A little more direct, but I still wouldn't tell) The third one actually called
me on the phone. She said that someone had asked her to try to find out for me, so she was taking a chance on telling me the truth in
hopes that I would tell her. HA! Nope, that didn't work either. And finally, the fourth one told me she was going to have a breast
reduction (which she actually did have done later) and was doing a survey on a good size, and was curious what my bra size was.
Ok, that was it, no more playing, it was time to tell them to give it up because I knew what they were doing! Eventually the
person that Marco had originally asked confessed to everything and asked me to please just tell him so he could make Marco happy.
I told him no way. Besides, Marco couldn't even walk in the same store with me as I purchased tampons, how the hell did he think
he was gonna manage getting up enough courage to go buy lingerie? I was saving him from unnecessary embarrassment. Not to
mention mine of actually having to wear the shit. So, needless to say, I was very pleased with his choice of gifts.
As soon as we were done with the gifts, it was naptime. We were going to his neighbors house tonight for a pre-holiday
gathering, so I definitely needed sleep before we went. By the time I woke up it was about 4pm. I really wanted to go back to sleep,
but was too happy to be here with Marco again. We sat together for a few hours talking, playing with his new toys, and teasing
Winnie with the ones that scared her. I had fun, but I don't think she did. Marco had told me a while ago that he didn't like
Christmas and he most definitely didn't like Christmas trees. I had tried everything I could think of to get him to give in and get one.
I even said I would bring a little Christmas tree candle - just so there was something. He said, "No way, not in my house!" So now
that I was there, I tried again to convince him of how much I wanted one. I figured this would be easy, after all if I can get him to
turn off his damn soccer games then I should surely be able to get him to agree to one itty bitty Christmas tree! But he was dead-set
against it, so I was out of luck. This really bummed me out. It was gonna be my first Christmas ever without my Grandma, and by
me being here in Holland, it also meant my first Christmas away from my Mom and family, and now I couldn't even have a tree? I
just figured, oh well, it's his house, but he better plan on it being a LOT different if and when we ever celebrated in the States.
We got ready and went over to his neighbors home. I had never met his neighbors but I knew Conny and Jan would be there, so I
wasn't as nervous. I had a really nice time while we were there. They didn't speak English, but Conny and Jan are really good at
keeping me up to date with what they were all saying (Marco still sort of forgot to help) hahaha. But that's ok because he's still cute,
so I let it slide. It was kind of cool actually, even though they didn't speak English, they were playing English Christmas music on
the stereo. We stayed for quite a while, drinking and talking (or in my case listening). By the time we got back to his home it was
really late and I was ready to do some serious snoring, which I did!
Each year Marco's family takes a turn hosting Christmas at their house, this year was his turn. So the next day we went to the
store and got all of the last minute things that he needed. All day long we kept saying that we needed to get up and start cleaning the
house and getting it ready for everyone. Yet somehow lying around on the couch and playing on the computer always sounded more
appealing. That night was Christmas Eve and Marco made me a wonderful meal. As we were sitting there, I noticed it had begun to
snow. Yay! I wish every year for snow on Christmas, but being from St. Louis, don't often get my wish. Marco told me this was the
first year it had snowed on Christmas there in years and years and years! I was so excited, I just sat there watching it for the longest
time. Continue
least 1 full day of rest before beginning the Holiday celebrations with his family. On the ride to his home, Marco filled me in on the
schedule of events that we would be following. My gosh, we were gonna be busy little bees, beginning tonight. Sigh, I guess my
one-day of total rest was only a dream.
When we got to Marco's home, the first thing we did was sit down and open the bag-o-gifts. This was awesome because Marco
hadn't received Christmas or Birthday gifts like this for a long time, so I was very much gonna enjoy watching him open them. Well,
open them isn't the right word. Tearing into them would be more accurate! He asked me which he should open before taking one
each time, but I had brought so much stuff, I honestly didn't remember what it all was. I had brought stuff for him, for Winniebitch
(as a peace offering), and for Conny & Jan (as a thank you for taking the time during my last visit to make it so enjoyable for me).
He loved all his stuff. I had gotten him a lot of goofy fun little things, things I knew he would never buy for himself. A Christmas
stocking with a smiley face on it, that when you pressed it would giggle, filled to the top with an assortment of candy; One of those
bass fish on a plaque, that said a variety of phrases through a light sensor; A stuffed animal gorilla that sang "Wild Thing" when
you pressed his foot; An electronic hand-held fishing game; Copies of 3 computer games that I had; A big basket filled with Yankee
Candles and holders (just because I know how much he loves "those damn yanks" hahaha); A sweater; A watch; Hell I can't
remember it all, but there was more than enough to fill the entire suitcase. My mom even sent another type of hand-held fishing
game for him.
Then came to the presents for Winnie, of which she was most unimpressed. I got her a cute little mat to go under her food and
water bowl; A bag of small plastic balls with bells inside; A thing that you stuck onto the window or wall, that had a string at the
end with a mouse hanging off; And one of those circular toys that you put on the floor that has an opening around the edge with a
mouse inside, that when she would swat it with her paw, would circle all around. (That is IF she ever friggin played with it!) Out of
all her gifts, the one thing that she chose to play with, once for about 3 minutes, was a wad of crumpled up wrapping paper. How
sad was this? She didn't even know how to play. Geesh! Although, I have to tell you, it was funny as hell when Marco put his talking
fish on the floor (the one that was activated through a light sensor) and she walked by it. She walked by, this fish moved and talked,
and she went flying through the air! hahaha After that, she wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with anything else.
After Marco was done opening his gifts, he gave me mine. I'm guessing that he had them wrapped in the store, because I don't
know any guys that can wrap that pretty. The first one was a pair of beautiful earrings. And the second one was a bottle of perfume
called Jilsander. OhMyGawd this stuff smelled so friggin good! Anytime I ever brought perfume that smelled this good, it was
always in the little .5 oz bottle. But this was the full size bottle. Whoa baby I was a happy camper! These were wonderful, he did
good!
I have to admit, I was a little worried about what he was gonna get me. Before I had left to go there, he had told me that he
wanted to get me something ummm nice, as in to wear (or not wear, as the case may be) to bed. I plain out told him, "No way, don't
do it, I'll be embarrassed." But did he listen? Nope He went out on a little crusade to find out what my bra size was himself. Within
a weeks time, I had no less than 4 people feeding me these bullshit stories in an attempt to find out my bra size! hahaha Those fools,
did they honestly didn't think I knew what was going on?
I had one telling me that there was a designer store that was closing and had the remainder of their inventory in the back of a
truck near his work. He wanted to get me a nice blouse for Christmas, all he needed was the size. First of all, this man would
NEVER browse through, much less purchase clothing from a truck. So he was busted immediately. But I played along, and just kept
telling him, no thank you, I have plenty of clothes. The second one told me that she had a bet with someone in the chatroom as to
what my bra size was and wanted to know if she was right. (A little more direct, but I still wouldn't tell) The third one actually called
me on the phone. She said that someone had asked her to try to find out for me, so she was taking a chance on telling me the truth in
hopes that I would tell her. HA! Nope, that didn't work either. And finally, the fourth one told me she was going to have a breast
reduction (which she actually did have done later) and was doing a survey on a good size, and was curious what my bra size was.
Ok, that was it, no more playing, it was time to tell them to give it up because I knew what they were doing! Eventually the
person that Marco had originally asked confessed to everything and asked me to please just tell him so he could make Marco happy.
I told him no way. Besides, Marco couldn't even walk in the same store with me as I purchased tampons, how the hell did he think
he was gonna manage getting up enough courage to go buy lingerie? I was saving him from unnecessary embarrassment. Not to
mention mine of actually having to wear the shit. So, needless to say, I was very pleased with his choice of gifts.
As soon as we were done with the gifts, it was naptime. We were going to his neighbors house tonight for a pre-holiday
gathering, so I definitely needed sleep before we went. By the time I woke up it was about 4pm. I really wanted to go back to sleep,
but was too happy to be here with Marco again. We sat together for a few hours talking, playing with his new toys, and teasing
Winnie with the ones that scared her. I had fun, but I don't think she did. Marco had told me a while ago that he didn't like
Christmas and he most definitely didn't like Christmas trees. I had tried everything I could think of to get him to give in and get one.
I even said I would bring a little Christmas tree candle - just so there was something. He said, "No way, not in my house!" So now
that I was there, I tried again to convince him of how much I wanted one. I figured this would be easy, after all if I can get him to
turn off his damn soccer games then I should surely be able to get him to agree to one itty bitty Christmas tree! But he was dead-set
against it, so I was out of luck. This really bummed me out. It was gonna be my first Christmas ever without my Grandma, and by
me being here in Holland, it also meant my first Christmas away from my Mom and family, and now I couldn't even have a tree? I
just figured, oh well, it's his house, but he better plan on it being a LOT different if and when we ever celebrated in the States.
We got ready and went over to his neighbors home. I had never met his neighbors but I knew Conny and Jan would be there, so I
wasn't as nervous. I had a really nice time while we were there. They didn't speak English, but Conny and Jan are really good at
keeping me up to date with what they were all saying (Marco still sort of forgot to help) hahaha. But that's ok because he's still cute,
so I let it slide. It was kind of cool actually, even though they didn't speak English, they were playing English Christmas music on
the stereo. We stayed for quite a while, drinking and talking (or in my case listening). By the time we got back to his home it was
really late and I was ready to do some serious snoring, which I did!
Each year Marco's family takes a turn hosting Christmas at their house, this year was his turn. So the next day we went to the
store and got all of the last minute things that he needed. All day long we kept saying that we needed to get up and start cleaning the
house and getting it ready for everyone. Yet somehow lying around on the couch and playing on the computer always sounded more
appealing. That night was Christmas Eve and Marco made me a wonderful meal. As we were sitting there, I noticed it had begun to
snow. Yay! I wish every year for snow on Christmas, but being from St. Louis, don't often get my wish. Marco told me this was the
first year it had snowed on Christmas there in years and years and years! I was so excited, I just sat there watching it for the longest
time. Continue
