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Christmas shopping

'Tis the season and Christmas has us by the throat. It is December 15th and I have not begun shopping. That is not as dire as it may sound. I don't have anyone in the states with whom I exchange gifts, so it is just the small group of people here in France. Helmut and I may take a trip together so we have promised no other gifts. That really leaves Helmut's kids (Corto, Ludwig, Anastasia and Stoyan (Anastasia's boyfriend)) and Audrey, the mother. Oh, and then there is the hostess for Christmas... and her mother.... I think I need to get started.

Christmas is going to be an odd affair this year. Not only will I be with Helmut and his family, but we will be at Audrey's mother's house. With her not-very-gay-friendly (or so I am told) husband. I do understand that this will be an uneasy Christmas for Helmut's family, maybe more than he does. As you may recall, Helmut "came out" to his children in August, when I had lunch with the "kids" (the youngest are the twins at 18) and Audrey. It went very well, but I know this is not a one day event. I used the example of the Jewish faith and compared it to how they deal with death. I think the Jews do death better than anyone else. As I understand it, they bury the dead as soon as possible, without the fanfare of an expensive casket, and then the grieving begins. Then every event fir the entire year is the first "without." Applying that logic to the present situation, this will be the first Christmas with Helmut out and with his boyfriend. Of course their heads understand, but their hearts need to catch up. They (hopefully) will see that Helmut is still the Papa and I am normal and socially acceptable. I do not plan to arrive in Carmen Miranda drag or start fights with the family over gay rights. I will be the textbook example of someone non-threatening. At least on paper, that is what will happen. I am sure I will have stories.

So, we come back to what to get everyone. I was at first fixated on the kids, but talking with Helmut and Audrey, I have decided that at 18 and 21, what they most want is money. But how to give it? Since they don't read this Blog, I am thinking to give the money through one of my Christmas traditions: cookies. This was always a big part of my Christmas celebration. My mother was a terrible cook, but a wonderful baker. We did everything from scratch and Christmas is a baker's holiday. We had all sorts of traditional cookies and from an early age, my brother and I both helped. We would get out the cookbooks and find the tradition ones we loved. Maybe add a new one, but we had quite a repertoire to go through. My brother grew out of it way before I did and I was always there in the kitchen with my mother helping out. It was definitely a bonding thing for us and was important to our Christmas.

So, I will bake some cookies, but I want something very American for this very French family. Yes, it is the chocolate chip cookie I will create. Now I discussed baking with Helmut when we were in New York last week. He is not a baker, so I wanted to know what I cannot get in France, so I could bring it to Paris. Baking soda and baking powder? Helmut said, "Sure... what's the difference?" (better get that while I can). Chocolate chips? "Of course." Well I let him have that one and the reality is, yes and no. While they do have minuscule chips (about one quarter the size), this will probably not work. I think why the chocolate chip cookie is such a favorite is the pieces of chocolate. With these mini-chips, they will probably melt and I will have a chocolate cookie. I will do some tests this week to see. I have some ideas on how to fix this.

I hope your preparations for the holidays is going well and bringing you joy (and minimum frustration).

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