Thank You, Panty Claus

The holidays bring to mind many things, 

but panties aren't usually among the contenders.

I'm pretty sure they don't even make the list of second-tier contenders.

In fact, admitting that you think of panties during the holiday season 

may actually get you kicked off a Christmas card list or two. 

Ahem, funny thing: 

for me, panties are right up there with Christmas trees and manger scenes. 

Go ahead, remove me from your list if you must, 

but let me qualify the above statement by saying that panties really are the gift that keeps on giving. 

Day after day, year-round, people. That's some kinda hard-working gift.

I will also divulge that there are, in fact, a handful of other women in this world that would agree with me.

For the past 13 years or so, 

some of my favorite people have gathered on one special night in December.

The Pink Door in Seattle.

We've all known one another for much longer - 

before real jobs, marriages, and children entered the picture -

but this night out has become one of the defining points in our shared histories. 

After a year of the good and the bad, it's one of those events that we long for.

 It's on our calenders months in advance, and we always find a way to make it happen.

We dress up, 

grab drinks in a swanky, little bar, 

dine in a fabulously chic restaurant, 

and forget everything else in the whole, entire world. 

Champagne and oysters arrive at the table.

There is wine and non-stop chatter,

decadent entrees and desserts.

It hasn't always been this fancy, but the heart of the evening never changes.

We go around, and, one by one, share our thoughts on the year - 

our hopes, our successes, and our tragedies.

Generally, these are topics we've all discussed at some point already, 

but it's cathartic to speak of them again. 

One last time before the slate is wiped clean.

Before they're history. Our history.

And then, as if that weren't enough to wrap it all up with a pretty, little bow, 

we bring out the tiny packages.

I do mean tiny.

Panties for all, that's the theme of the night, 

and we buy each pair with a particular friend in mind.

We pass them around. 

We look at them from all angles.

We compare fabrics.

We laugh at the shockingly big or ridiculously small.

Or the seriously funny.

Panties, sexy or understated, remind me of Christmas.

Of lovely friends and a few hours of carefree fun. 

Thank you, Panty Claus, from the bottom {tee-hee} of my heart.

~

I wish you all love, panties, and a merry holiday!

Meggie