Christmas and the Perfect Woman

This past weekend I attended a party hosted by one of my Perfect Women. This is the one who weeds my flower beds when she visits me in the summer. Please don't get the idea that I don't like miss type A+. I really do, she and I have a lot in common. It's the things we don't share that make our friendship interesting. A+ is my own personal Martha Stewart, without the wealth. She can do it all and, if I asked her, she would come over and do it at my house, too. She's like the "Hometime" girl, only beautiful and southern. A Chi-O for those interested. On arrival her house and yard are decorated with little lights. She has brought in a small Conestoga wagon which is surrounded by lit deer. Go inside and the lights are perfectly dimmed, as she has installed dimmers this past week herself. Evergreen boughs cover each window and door frame. The Christmas tree has a nice collection of not perfect ornaments, which is a relief. When you have kids, people send them ornaments and, there you are, wondering where to place "Biker Barbie" for the best effect. A little choo choo train runs around the bottom of the tree. And, above the fireplace is a painting of... you guessed it! A regionally famous artist saw A+ and asked her to sit for him. She has a print, the original sold for $17,000. In the kitchen it's a bit out of her control as this is a potluck so nestled between her homemade sugar cookies and gingerbread boys are random dishes of meatballs and (my addition) li'l smokies. But she has provided a myriad of beverages: cocoa with or without schnapps and wassail are heating on the stovetop and a large tureen of her old family "recipe" is on the counter. This is for adults only and contains a fifth of Southern Comfort. One guy comes in wanting to show us his "fireball" trick involving Everclear and she sends him out into the snow for his pyrotechnics. All the children are included and are having a merry time in the basement which has been converted into what looks like a preschool, but is just the way A+ wants it.The kids are being kids and dumping out entire containers of Mr. PotatoHead parts, but then I watched these little boys magically pick them all up and put them away when they were finished. There is a little kitchen, a lego table, a train table, all atop a cushioned carpet. No one is fighting or crying or unhappy. How does she do it? There is a door in the wall that if you open it you will find A+'s pantry. She has carved out a pantry in a wall with no space, just what is there between the studs. The girl never fails to amaze and inspire. Knowing she would be returning my crockpot the next day, I was motivated to finish my decorating that I started Thanksgiving weekend, fold my mountain of laundry and identify the furry wad that is under the computer desk.