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Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas Is More Than One Day


It’s a rainy, windy day outside my window this December morning. Christmas music is flowing through my house and I have my giant mug of hot cocoa beside me. I am smiling because I just remembered one of my favorite little seasonal treats and I tossed some broken up candy canes into my cocoa! Oh so, so very good!

Yesterday I told Hubs that while everyone else is counting down the days till Christmas with high anticipation I am just ready for it to be over and done with!

What? Is that a horrible thing to say at this time of year? Yes, it is! But we are empty nesters and our extended families are out of state. It’s too expensive and complicated for us to go to them or them to come to us.

Hub’s response to me was a very wise observation that will surprise those around us who see his anti-social, curmudgeon side a bit too often. He said that too many people put all the emphasis on the one day of Christmas. Everything is working up to December 25th. Expectations are high and sometimes those expectations bring a lot of stress with them.

But Hubs said that our Christmas this year really is all about the whole month of gatherings and parties and cooking and shopping. It’s the entire season that should be savored and enjoyed. And we have been enjoying the season very much. We even had a Christmas party in our home this year! And we have attended some great rollicking parties in other homes as well. 

Is it possible that my own personal scrooge is morphing into Will Farrell’s ELF? Well, I don’t think so, since I still haven’t heard him say,

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!”

Or

“I'm a cotton-headed ninny-muggins!”

No, I don't think he has found his "inner elf", but right this minute, he is out in the cold garage working on his motorcycle and I am sipping hot cocoa and writing. We are each doing our favorite things! Hubs is right, it is not about one day. We do have a fun plan for Christmas Day but it won’t be like we remember them in our past.

There will be Christmases in the future that are packed full of people, food and little ones, like our holidays used to be. For now, for this time in our lives, it is quiet and easy and sweet. This day is my Merry Christmas and it is very good!

4 comments:

  1. That you're doing what you like is wonderful!

    And while I have this strong "Bah! Humbug!" feeling about Christmas, it is a Gift that keeps on giving, far more than any other.

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  2. I'm with you on this one Brenda...with son gone and in his new home this year I'd just like to get to the other side of the festivities and maybe next year we'll do something different. Mind you if the weather stays as bad as it has been we'll not get to dog sit in France and I'll be curled up with a glass of red wine and my happy memories of Christmas past here in te wintry UK.
    I wish you and your family a thoroughly enjoyable time nevertheless and my heartfelt thanks for following and commenting on my posts. I am very appreciateive of my new friends in blogworld.
    A happy and healthy 2011...looking forward to catching up in the New Year. I think I mightget terribl blog withdrawals symptoms over the next two weeks:(

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  3. It must be in the air. My Scrooge is acting like the Grinch after his heart grows three sizes!

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  4. Your cocoa sounds so yummy!!! Your Christmas season sounds like so much fun. :)

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Brenda