I had the loveliest time visiting my family-to-be in Prince George. Folks were nice, I was fed until I positively waddled back into the United States, and everybody got me beautiful pressies.
My family hasn't really celebrated the winter holidays much since Jin and I turned ten or so. I really missed things like the tree and presents and the nice festive feeling of having family together. It's just not the same when you're sitting in a quiet house Christmas morning with nothing to do, nowhere to go, and a sullen brother who hates his life because the kids next door are shrieking with joy with a giant tree of gifts and tons of cousins to play with.
Rob's family does things I'd only ever seen in movies until now. Cars come up the snow-lined driveway to deposit relatives, greatcoated and breathing clouds of steam, carrying wrapped bundles. There's holiday cookies and tarts and all kinds of sweets all over the counter from neighbors, friends, and relatives. A live Christmas tree is chopped down from the woods out back and brought into the house. They bake and decorate special Christmas cookies. The table and kitchen area is laden with food, food, and so much food.
There's nothing I regret whatsoever about growing up Japanese American and getting to experience bazaars at the Buddhist church, taiko drumming, and homemade takuan, or about growing up in an area of California that never snows, but it was so neat to be able to also experience the type of Christmas that I'd only ever seen in movies starring white people that were made about the idyllic holidays of the East coast.
Oh, and Rob's family has really good taste in clothing. I got an entire wardrobe for 2007 for Christmas. This is not at all like when I was a kid, and getting clothes was an absolute drag for the holidays. My father's side of the family gave me clothes that would get me beat up at school, like electric blue pants covered in white sheriff stars, or pink and green plaid. One memorable summer whilst visiting my mother in Los Angeles, I donned a pair of shorts I'd received for Christmas because I'd outgrown all of my other clothes, and my mother, upon seeing them, shrieked and told me to take them off that instant, threw them in the trash, and took me out to buy new clothes that afternoon.
More than I like the clothes, I love the fact that I'm marrying into a really great family that I enjoy spending time with, and who have made me feel absolutely welcome. Yay!