In Oklahoma City, the city I recently moved from, I have spent a significant number of Christmases. I was born in Oklahoma City, spent nearly every Christmas there, and even when I went off to Hollywood to work and play, I would come back for Christmas. When I traveled anywhere, I came back home for Christmas. Then, when we moved to Indianapolis, I think I had four Christmases there - I don't remember. This year, 2025, was my first Christmas in El Reno, Oklahoma, and I loved it. No hassle, no baking, no fuss, no guests, no nothing. I listened to several of my co-workers complain that they couldn't wait for Christmas to be over. They were forced to see their in-laws. They spent too much on presents, and had to work extra hard to make up for it -- that's not Christmas.
Laura and I didn't wake up early. She was up earlier than I was, and we had a very relaxing sort of day. No one was coming over, and we weren't going anywhere, so we both just put on our pajamas and sat around the house. She played games online, conversed with her friends from all over the world, and I watched murder videos -- you know, Christmas murder videos. Yes, they do have them. They aren't instructional-type videos, mind you; they are, in fact, 48 Hours, Dateline, and those types of videos about murders that took place around this time of year. I'm not a monster!
We didn't open presents, but Laura did (earlier) put her present together. I bought her a pink L-shaped desk for her office. Not only because she needed one, but also so I could have my side table and two end tables back; she was using them for her desk setup. She's good now, and she's adorable behind her pink desk with at least two cats under her feet or on the side desk area - watching her type. The third cat can't be bothered.
I knew candy and sugar cookies would go on sale after Christmas, so I waited for that, but I did buy one or two trinkets for the stockings. We didn't even touch them, but I bought more on sale today (2 days after Christmas), and yes, I thought about buying more pajamas, which were also half price, but I really don't need another set. I have enough. I'm good. It's hard for me to pass them and not buy them - that much I will admit. I could be addicted.
This Christmas season, the entire season, we didn't see anyone stealing packages off anyone's porch. We didn't see crackheads walking around the front of our house. We didn't hear sirens, car alarms, people screaming, or that very odd and unsettling feeling when you hear someone in your carport, but you can't open the door because it could be worse if you did. Nope, nothing like that. We heard birds. We listened, and we heard the birds outside in the massive pecan trees outside our front door. We heard the dogs barking, without the neighbor calling the cops. We heard the horse making those cute horse noises, and we heard the sound of the tea kettle boiling.
Today, a couple of days after Christmas, because Laura couldn't be bothered to go yesterday, we went to the UPS store to return our old Cox box (modem). We met two beautiful women who were interested in Laura's dog, Rose, because no one cares if you bring your dog into stores in El Reno. No one cares. Everyone likes it, and you don't have to feel put out having to explain anything. It's a dog! She's behaved and on her leash, and all she wants is for others to love her and give her treats if they have them.
We went to Walmart, and yes, I got those half-off cookies. It's becoming a tradition at this point. Queen Anne's dark chocolate-covered cherries were $1.95; I did that too. I walked the place and just thought WOW...this is not crowded. I can look down every aisle, and maybe someone will be there, but most likely not (except on the food side). I wasn't rushed, I wasn't pushed, I didn't smell anything weird, and most of all, it was just so relaxing -- I got my steps in, and I smiled. Laura isn't anxious in the stores anymore, and she even liked the strong scents in the combined UPS Store/Pharmacy that will now be my go-to. I love it. It's cute, and the ladies are so nice.
We went to Burger King -- something we didn't do in OKC. It was either crowded or too crowded. Those were your choices. We pulled in, and NO ONE was there - it was 11:35 a.m., and we were the ONLY customers! That was awesome. They tried to give me sweet tea, and that had to be rectified, but other than that, we had an amazing time in the drive-through. Next, because it's only a block away, we went to Tractor Supply, where no, we did not get our horse feed for 1/2 off, but the Peppermint Bark was! If you've not gone to your local TSC, you need to do that -- we would live in ours if they'd let us. It's big, open, stocked, friendly, and I don't know anywhere else you can get pecan log rolls; maybe that's not the best reason to live somewhere, but it could be one.
My point is, we drove to these places, and there was no traffic. We went inside these places, and there were people, but not very many. We smile, they smile, everyone is happy. It can't be a coincidence. We know something they don't know in the bigger cities. We know that getting as far away from the stressers, the pushers, the pimps, the filth, and all the rest of the noisy nonsense is life-changing. I should have moved here years (and years) ago. I genuinely wish I had. I can breathe, I can dance, I can go outside and pretend I'm a princess if I want to. The only ones to criticize me would bark or neigh -- I love it.
I'm considering forcing Laura out to the front yard to help me rake up the thousands of pecans that are lying around the place. We can donate them. We don't have to keep them, but they do need to be picked up -- maybe. I don't know, maybe not. Maybe, since the trees are verified to be more than 80 years old, there is a long history of the fruits of these particular trees being returned to the ground -- I have no idea. I just think it would be a good thing to do; you tell me. I could eat them. I'm not above that. I will crack open a nut and enjoy it. You know why? Because I can. I couldn't do that anywhere else I have ever lived.
Photo Credit: Walmart.com
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