I love colored lights! The Surly Republican across the street goes all out decorating and illuminating his house. Every night I open the door and walk out on my porch to savor the display. I told him I enjoyed it. He barely answered, didn't make eye contact, and walked away. Sucks to be him.
Going through ornaments and thinking about the why or the who is always a profoundly moving experience. I hold them in my hand, thinking hard about people who gifted them to us.
I enjoy giving presents. I realize gift giving is a poor excuse for showing love, but when it comes to that particular emotion I throw caution to the wind.
I'm heartened by the softening of hearts, opening of wallets, and end-of-the-year donations to the poor. I wish we were always open hearted, but at least we have this season to remind us how good generosity feels.
OMG! Consider the yummy cookies and scrumptious meals we only make at Christmas. These foods are precious because of their limited availability. I'm like a little kid. I can't wait!
I hear from so many loved ones my heart nearly bursts. Wide open. Phantasmagorical blood spurting everywhere, y'all. Ouch.
Which brings me to the "hate" part of Christmas. I am emotionally overwhelmed. The stress of buying the right presents sets my head spinning. And I worry about eating and drinking too much over the next 3 weeks. Because I will.
I love the ornament in this picture. I'm guessing it's the salt dough. Did you make it? We put up our salt dough partridge in a pear tree every year and it reminds me of our Thanksgiving trip to Ithaca.
ReplyDeleteNo, it is not one of mine, altho I have tried to copy it many times over the years because I love it so much. I received this particular jewel from my dear friend Jane, a million years ago. She is not only an old friend, but a fellow blogger. She is the force behind https://chillyhollownp.blogspot.com/ We had so much fun making salt dough ornaments, didn't we? I still have a pink pig in a tutu that you made and put it up every year.
DeleteThe last paragraph says it all. I haven't decorated. No tree. Not one gift purchased. and I feel a bit paralyzed. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't for the grandkids coming over on Christmas Day, I wouldn't put up a tree. Too much. Too potent. Yet, I love Christmas trees.
DeleteI believe Christmas is the holiday that makes us stop and show those we love just how much we love them. Of course we should be doing that every day but we don't.
ReplyDeleteI am thankful for the Christmas spirit.
DeleteMy older grandkids send me an Amazon link to what they want! The little grandkids are happy with any toy. I gave my five-year-old grandson a hotwheel car (just one) last week when he came to visit and he was so excited. Just do what you can or want to do and it will be over before you know it! Have fun! Don't fret! Stay safe!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the sage advice! You are so right.
DeleteYou really have Christmas properly described, except eschewing food. For shame. Eat it up. And, you could give the well lighted neighbor the finger, when he turns around.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'll eat it up, ha! Excellent plan for the neighbor.
DeleteI would assume that someone who goes to great lengths to decorate and illuminate his house is blatantly attention-seeking. Yet when you give him that attention, he freaks out. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteI sincerely don't understand him.
DeleteThe holiday is bittersweet for me. I remember when my son and daughter were young how excited we all were for the food, the togetherness, and of course, the gifts.
ReplyDeleteIt very clearly isn't the dame these days.
Yet, I love the lights, the sounds, the general jubilation over this time of year.
I am trying to catch the wave. :-)
I'd like to catch that wave, too.
DeleteYeah, I have a Love/Hate Relationship with some things too... Thankfully the Holidays aren't those things for me. I Love the Word Phantasmagorical, now I can't wait to use it in a Sentence! *winks* Your surly Republican Neighbor sounds like the typical ReTrumplican Type... we had scads of them in Subdivision Hell, which is why I couldn't wait to Escape and move here around decent Neighbors who actually have a sense of Community and know how to be Neighborly rather than pretentiously rude or disingenuous and fake as fuck. Enjoy what you Love about the Holidays!
ReplyDeleteI got a huge kick out of using the word phantasmagorical. Ha!
DeleteSome times, I could be like you or at least I wish I could share your enthusiasm about Xmas.
ReplyDeleteIt was truly magical as a kid, no doubt, and probably because it was very different to the commercial frenzy of today.
I loved my Irish in-laws' Xmas which always included the entire neighbourhodd and whoever was "home" from abroad, very rowdy, lots of singing and laughing.
We had some good family occasions too, after my in-laws had gone, but basically, I leave the ornaments safely packed in the basement for now. And no way will I hoover up the needles from a cut tree come January. And a plastic tree is not what you'd ever dare put up in Germany.
Interesting. This is inspiring me to write another blog post. I'm a sucker for Germany + Christmas. I enjoy hearing about how different countries celebrate.
DeleteI live with a person who is Christmas spirit on steroids. She shops, she decorates, sings carols, she watches every xmas movie, and organizes mitten drives. I just try to stay out of the way and eat cookies. Works for me.
ReplyDeleteHa! I used to be that person, a million years ago. Now I am just tired and so happy to pass the cookie making and Christmas Eve doings on to my daughter. I wish my husband was like your partner, willing to take it all on. I like it, I just don't have the desire to work myself up into that frenzy any more. Enjoy the cookies!
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