The holidays are upon us and with that comes the most important part of the holiday season; catching up with friends and family that you haven't talked to since lunch. Or having a Christmas conversation with my 89 year old mother - Betty.
Betty isn't exactly someone I need to catch up with at Christmas but since we normally only talk about haircuts or how much turnips cost I thought it would be fun to ask her about some of her thoughts on Christmas.
This is a conversation we had (and I recorded at the time) 8 years ago.
To get an idea of what Betty is like you can watch her take out one of my kitchen walls with a sledgehammer here.
Here's Betty with her friends.
A Christmas Conversation With Betty
Me: What was your favourite Christmas present as a kid?
Betty: Figure skates. I got them every year.
Me: You got figure skates every SINGLE year?
Betty: Yep. I loved them. It's all I ever asked for. The only year I didn't like them, well I thought they were O.K., but I didn't really like them … they were brown. I mean they were brown. They got them out of the catalogue. That's all the catalogue had that year. Brown skates. And … I still like white. Even when they wear those things over their feet in skating competitions, I don't like it. NO WAY. I like the white. I got stupid things. I got a cedar chest when I was about 12. Mind you I loved filling that thing up. At the time I worked at a store selling hats, and I'd buy sheets, pillow cases. The most expensive ones they had. I loved them. I got a duvet when I was 12 too.
Me: (I'm now beginning to become suspicious of my mother's answers because she seems to have only gotten presents at the age of 12. And all of them. She got all her lifetime of Christmas presents when she was 12).
Betty: I'm still using that duvet. It's on the bed right now. I had it refeathered. You know what though? It's wearing out.
Me: NO! Maybe you could return it. Seems to me a quality duvet should last more than 65 years.
Betty: (ignores me) I think I got a housecoat I really liked once too. Out of the catalogue. The Sears catalogue. Or Simpsons. Simpsons/Sears.
Me: What is your most memorable holiday moment.
Betty: Oh I don't know. I can't remember. There weren't any. I don't know. Everyone went up to Matawa or North Bay and got drunk. That's all I remember. Does that count?
Me: Would you like to hear my most memorable holiday moment?
Betty: Um … I don't know.
Me: Mine was when you came downstairs with a shotgun with a house full of kids saying you didn't know whether it was loaded or not.
Betty: YOU dreamt that! I did NOT. Why would I do that? You're making that up! Is this going on your blog? Why are you asking me these questions?
Me: No. I'm just doing a survey.
Betty: Oh. O.K. That seems strange. Are you sure?
Me: Yup.
Betty: I don't believe you.
Me: Do you like buying Christmas presents for everyone?
Betty: NO! (Laughing) (Still laughing) Half of me likes it and the other half doesn't. I like it if I can think of good things to buy otherwise I don't.
Me: When picking out a gift for someone else would you rather buy something you like or something the person you're giving it to would like?
Betty: (Laugh) Well probably something I like. (Laughs hysterically)
Me: (Betty is notorious for only buying things she approves of and likes herself. If you want it but she thinks it's in poor taste, well that's your problem for having bad taste. She'll buy you what she thinks you SHOULD want.)
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Me: What is your favourite part of the holidays?
Betty: The Christmas carols.
Me: I don't believe you. Name your favourite carol.
Betty: Ummm ….. I saw Santa kissing mama. Is that it? No. I saw mama kissing Santa Claus. (laughing) I haven't heard it for a year so I sort of forget. That's my favourite though.
Me: If you could have any wish come true for Christmas what would it be? Anything. Like a magic Christmas wish.
Betty: For good health for all of my children.
Me: (I'm beginning to suspect she's realizing these answers are indeed going on the blog)
Me: If you could have one celebrity over for Christmas who would it be? (I'm about to list 3 people she can choose from but she interrupts me)
Betty: I know who I want to come.
Me: But I was going to give you a list to choose from.
Betty: But I have my own list.
Me: But I was going to give you a choice of 3 people.
Betty: Johnny Cash. That's who is on my list. It would be Johnny Cash.
Me: He wasn't on my list.
Betty: Fine. O.K. who was on your list?
Me: Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus or Ron Jeremy?
Betty: Who is he?
Me: He's a porn star with a big penis.
Betty: Oh God I don't wanna see him. I'd pick Miley Cyrus.
Me: Why?
Betty: She's cute.
Me: Not Kim Kardashian?
Betty: NO. She's too snooty for me.
Me: O.K. That's all the questions I have for you.
Betty: This isn't going on your blog is it?
Me: Yes. Yes it is.
Betty: NO! No, no Karen you can't put this on your blog. I said some not nice things.
Me: Like what?
Betty: Well, like that I didn't like shopping.
The End.
Have a good weekend!
Deb from Maryland
I am happy for you that you had (and still have) this wonderful women in your life. She is a hoot - and you are a chip off the ole' block. Happy Christmas1