Anyone who have ever known me, knows that I love Christmas. My countdown begins in October, around the same time I start listening to Christmas music on the radio stations that boast the continuous format from October 1st through December 25th. I'm "that girl". I always have been. So what is it about the season that I love so much? That's a great question. Is it fair to say, "everything"?
I feel particularly nostaglic about my wonderful childhood around this time of year. Memories of waiting in order of age on the stairs so that we could all march down and get that first glimpse of Santa's generosity together, the sticky buns my mimi and da would bring from Viking Pastry in Philadelphia, the rush to get home from church on Christmas Eve and in bed before Santa skipped our house, it was all so magical. It still is. We are at the point in our family where my brother and I are both married or getting married. We don't have kids, yet. My grandparents are getting older, and the trip is getting harder to make. Yet, to me, there is still nothing like the warm feeling in my heart when the chaos of life gets set aside and tradition persists. I've always been a stickler for Christmas tradition. But, as life changes, I'm learning to adjust.
This year is the first year that the Hubby-to-be and I will be spending Christmas morning together. It's tough because he is an only-child. If he's not with his parents on Christmas morning, they are alone. In the same breath, my brother spends Christmas morning with his wife's family, if I'm not with mine, my parents and Grandparents are alone. There's no good answer. But I think we've come up with the best possible solution. Unfortunately that means that Hubby-to-be and I will be logging many miles to see everyone we love. To me, it's worth it. And to help the situation, it was actually my mom-in-law who suggested we spend Christmas morning with my parents, then come to them in the afternoon. Hearing her say it, made me feel so much better about it.
The bottom line is that I am so fortunate. The fact that my biggest problem is that I have too many loved ones to see in a day is the best problem to have. So we will drive, a lot. we will feel rushed and spread thin. But it will all be worth it. and in the end, when Christmas is over and it's time to head back to work, I'll feel sad, as I always do. Because to me, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I love Christmas too. So much! It was strange this year, though, in the middle of summer. St. Nicholas (not santa, for some reason) comes on Christmas Eve here and brings a chocolate orange. Mike got Sue a flowering tree they call the "New Zealand Christmas Tree" (pahutakawa) in full bloom. We then went for a speed boat ride and a hike in the heat of the day.
It was a good day, don't get me wrong, but a very strange one indeed, and somehow ham just doesn't taste right in the middle of summer. I'd have done fish, I think.
Post a Comment