Family survives water nixie attack

My family is under attack by water nixies. Last week they backed up one of our toilets then clogged a sink and a tub. They giggled and gurgled while we tried to clean up the mess. Then, as if to make sure we knew we were in their power, they broke a faucet, sprang leaks in two shower fixtures and under the kitchen sink.

It doesn’t stop there. I think they’re trying to take over. They busted two of our pasture spigots so that water shot all over the place, creating a swamp suitable for boggarts. If that isn’t evidence of an invasion, I’m not sure what is.

But we’re not giving in. By Saturday the plumbers fixed everything. After paying the bill, I accused them of being in cahoots with the nixies, but the plumbers denied it. They seemed to think I’m crazy, like water demons don’t really exist.

But they weren’t around to see the second assault (we suspect ice fairy involvement). Monday, our well pipes burst, resulting in a spectacular fountain that would make any water demon proud. The ice fairies celebrated by sliding down frozen blades of grass and skating on frozen puddles.

Again, we fought back. We sealed the breached pipe, but those mischievous sprites rallied. Wednesday they mounted a new campaign at our apartments, popping pipes apart, flooding the laundry room and the dwelling next door (the tenant just moved in Saturday. Sigh.).

It took until 1 am to force those little imps back where they came from. I went home, exhausted, but triumphant. But the war’s not over. This morning I found a wet patch seeping across my kitchen ceiling. Clearly, my enemy’s tiring, but hasn’t given up yet.

How am I coping? I think you can guess. If those water nixies and ice fairies don’t back down, I’m writing them out of my story. Ha!

Do you ever feel like imps and fairies are sneaking around, wreaking havoc in your life?

Flashback to Christmas

Our little live Christmas tree outside

I know, at this time of year, no one’s really thinking of the Christmas holidays. But an experience I had this season keeps coming back to me. I was at my son, Drake’s, elementary school Christmas program. They always perform a variety of music, both secular and religious. Perfect for a rural Oklahoma community. Each class sings twice.

This year I loved seeing Drake, wearing a great big Santa beard, singing Santa is his name-O. I think you can guess the origin of that song.

But the end of the program was the most moving. Several years ago, when my daughter, Jessica, entered pre-Kindergarten, a deaf boy entered the class with her. He has other problems as well and an aide fluent in sign is always with him. Since that time, many of Jessie’s class programs have included sign language. This group has moved up to middle school, but influence of that sweet boy is still felt in the elementary.

At the end of this year’s program, instead of singing, the Pre-K kids signed Away in a Manger, accompanied by a violin soundtrack. It was exquisite to see them sign in silence, save for the violins. They went through the song once, then, without missing a beat, the entire elementary joined in, singing and signing together. What a spirit of unity and hope filled the gymnasium.

Later, I told the band/choir director how touching the program ending was and he told me that when they practiced it together, the singing at the end was spontaneous. The song burst out of the students as if they couldn’t bear to hold it back, as if the story demanded to be told. It was so beautiful that he and the other teachers decided to do the program that way.

I’m glad they did. It’s one of those memories I’ll always treasure.

What holiday experiences stick with you? What are some of your favorite Christmas memories?