Believe it or not, it is not about presents either. There is a buzz in the air that is contagious and most people can't help but get caught up in it. Notice I say MOST.
A good example is the other day. I had a fantastic day of running everyday errands and I got a text from a friend that said she was going to be in town and if I had time could we meet. I was thrilled! We had such a great chat catching up over coffee. The best part of the holidays is the visiting friends and family for me. I got home after and I got to hang out with Paul before I headed to work for the night. I got into my work clothes and wore my snowman socks and snowman earrings and thought I am going to have a great night at work. All was going well until my first client came along. I introduced myself and that was as far as it got. I get that not everyone feels the Christmas spirit and it means different things to different people. I respect that. However! When someone comes at you and sort of makes you feel bad about the fact you are enjoying the season that is when you cross the line. I kept telling myself not to take it personally that maybe things weren't going well for her and like I said I don't force anything on anyone. My wearing my snowman earrings to me is an expression of myself and my celebrating winter. So that was fine, and then the next hour was more of the same from a different person. At this point I felt terrible, I went from being in such a great place to being in a very bad place.
The holidays are not an easy time for anyone including myself. You miss loved ones, you are miles away from home and you are reflecting on Christmases past or the year that has passed and what lies ahead. My goal every year it to carry on my version of traditions while making up new ones and memories and celebrating life. That is what Christmas means to me; family, friends both near and far.
Notice I didn't say anything about gifts? Gifts are great, and I love picking out the right thing for some one that will make them smile. But I won't go into debt over it or expect something from everyone I see. Sometimes all you really want is time. Of course I do hound Paul every day about opening just one present, but really that is just our little tradition.
One of my favorite memories is my last one while my step dad was alive. It was Christmas 1998. Those of you who had been to our house at Christmas remember the streamers and decorations that covered every inch of our apartment and the coffee table and end tables being held down with baskets upon baskets of candy. It was a sight to see http://redheadedstepsister.blogspot.com/2010/11/spirits-of-christmas-past.html has a couple of photos to give you an idea of what is was like. Anyway every Christmas Eve Dad would make steak and lobsters for us and we would sit around listening to holiday music and watch my niece and nephew get more and more excited as it got closer to bedtime. This particular night they stayed over at our place and we waited for Santa. My stepsister and I could not sleep. Here we were in our 20's and 30's and wide awake to excited to sleep. So we stayed up and watched the original Christmas Carol on CBC. Finally it was like 7am and the kids were still asleep and so were Mom and Dad. It got to a point were we couldn't stand it any longer we went and woke the kids up so that THEY could go wake Mom and Dad up. We ate breakfast and opened our stockings which was the best part. Of course they knew we had set the kids up to make it look like their idea.
So here we are early morning on Christmas Eve 2011 and I have to work at 8am but at 4am I was wide awake. Too excited to sleep. At 5am I gave up the fight and got up. Now I am watching a Christmas Carol which by the way is still scary.
From This Canadian Life; to you and your family. We wish you all a very Happy Holiday and all the best for 2012.
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