Christmas 2004

Dawn. Christmas morning.
In the living room of 5707 Avenue C
all is quiet, the present-opening frenzy yet to come.

In the dining room, Jim Long's Christmas cactus has bloomed.
An accident? We'd like to think not. Jim, what say you?

Soon, our family and friends arrive...
the Raleros of Veracruz, Mexico (Pepin, Patsy and Ana)
and their guest Ernesto East of Mexico City,
Amy Dolan of Kyle, Texas and
Alex and Sarah Jones of Cedar Park, Texas.
Let the present-opening frenzy begin!

Sarah Jones doesn't want to be on camera at the moment. Nice tongue, eh?

When Sarah's not looking, she is caught showing Steve (a.k.a. Downwind Jaxon)
the ipod Santa brought her on Christmas Eve. Lucky Sarah! Steve tries not to drool.

Amy and Sarah set the table for 15.

Guests include Rusty Jones of San Antonio, Texas, Alex's dad...

...former next-door neighbor and current two-miles-away neighbor Mary Wolcott...

...Dr. Lynden Talcott of San Antonio, chatting here with Amy...

...who moments later was convinced to smile for the camera...

...Lynden's beloved Shirley Jackley, with Patsy Ralero...

...and Mamie and Takashi Tani of Pflugerville, Texas.

Waiting for the dinner bell to sound, Sarah and Alex chat with Rusty
in front of the car wax, dog biscuits, WD-40, saltines and tool boxes in the pantry.

Mary gives Shirley a squeeze.

Rusty and Mary examine the real meaning of-- uh, stuff.
He's a history buff among many other interests, and she's a librarian.
"If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it..."

Shirley and Pepin.

Amy, Alex and Sarah.

Presiding merrily over the proceedings,
Steve's very best friend in the entire world
and Your Hostess,
June Greenhow.

After we dine on a sumptuous potluck menu ("Christmas Around the World")
it's time for Dr. Talcott to set up his alignment table.
ALTERNATE CAPTION:
"Say hello to the camera, Amy."
"Hello to the camera, Amy."

Next on the table...Mamie Tani...

...whose ears felt immediately better, she said,
after the trademark snap-crackle-pop
induced by Lynden's magic...

...followed by husband Takashi...

...who said he felt terrific afterwards...

...and that a picture is indeed worth a thousand words!

Later, Rusty engages the Tanis in a long conversation...

...while Ana and Ernesto strike a million-dollar pose...

...and Patsy engages her nephew and niece on what looks to be a profound topic.
Maybe another "If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it..." discussion.

Finally, it is just too much to wait any longer.
June must try on her gorgeous new red shoes, a gift from Amy.
Which is probably a good place to leave this narrative...
"...and to all a good night!"

If you would like photographic prints of any of these photos,
click here to request via email from Downwind Jaxon.