Post-Christmas

It's all over but the shouting... and the cleanup. Christmas seemed to take its time getting here, and now it's suddenly over and we're looking forward to the new year, 2010. Mike and I went to more celebrations than usual and even hosted a brunch. All were festive and joyful, because of the people mostly. Our kids and their mates are terrific, and it's always a pleasure to be with them, no matter what the reason.

Of course we indulged ourselves by eating way too much of the wrong kind of food, and we're both paying for it... but, hey! what are holidays for?! The frig and freezer are full , but in time the temptation will dwindle to the point that I'll be able to toss most of those leftovers. I had to sack up the chocolates, because we both love those the MOST.

The tree is looking a little lonely, even though we've left most of our gifts under and around it, so it will be coming down right after New Year's, if not before. The Christmas wrap and ribbon and tags have yet to be put away, as do the fun and silly knick-knacks I put out every year. The wonderful gifts, of which there were many, will be put into use and enjoyed and remembered as part of this year's joy.

Right now I'm in the midst of doing year-end bookkeeping for the golf course: W-2s, WH-3, SUTA, FUTA, 940, 941.... Without Quick Books Pro I would probably falter and fail at this job, but they make it easy. Of course, I get better at it every year, and learn new things that help the process. The golf course is all but shut down completely with the weather so cold and snowy, but 2010 memberships are pouring in, so we know that the golfers are already anxious to be out with their clubs.

Mike and I look forward to the peace and quiet of the winter months. We watch movies and read and sleep... and recover from the constant requirements of golf course management. However, it's inevitable that before long we will both be anxious for it all to start up again.

Multiplicity

The Christmas season can be a pain in the neck or it can be the most wonderful, joyous time of the year. Yesterday a clerk at the grocery store gushed, "Oh, I LOVE Christmas; it's my favorite holiday!", and then added, "It means the semester is almost over!" In essence, this dichotomy reflects the multiple reactions we have to Christmas. It made me smile and it started me thinking.

Some folks mourn the loss of the true meaning of Christmas, which church-going people celebrate as the birthday of Jesus, the beginning of mankind's salvation. It's nice to see the stable scene set up outside churches and in peoples' yards; it makes me a bit sentimental, remembering the Christmas songs and midnight masses of my childhood.

Others mourn the loss of Christmas traditions, which revolved around the warmth and comfort of family and food and the simple joys gift-giving. Those traditions have gone through a metamorphosis to become a mad rush to buy more and better gifts, to hurry up and mail out those cards before Christmas day, to host a Rachel Ray or a Martha Stewart dinner or brunch or open house, to have better and more decorations inside and out than the neighbors, to suffer stress and worry over what was once such a simple day.

We've certainly lost something along the way, haven't we?

There will always be the special feeling we have when family is gathered around, and that's not lost. We find ourselves excited as we watch someone open our gift, hoping they like it, knowing they will. When cards come in the mail, we're grateful for the touch of far-away friends and family. That feels pretty special. We can't help but smile when we set out the Christmas decorations we've had for years and years, because sometimes memories are better than what we have today.

Whenever there are children in the house over the Christmas holiday, we can't help but share their sparkle and excitement. We're drawn into their sense of wonder, and realize that most of us have lost that special joy. Maybe we need to search our memories for what was most important to us about past Christmases. We might just find enough there to jog us back into the amazement and delight of our own childhoods, and of the days when our own children were small. Perhaps then we will experience again the calm and silence and peace that Christmas offers.

Pre-Christmas Tree

Well, here it is, mid-December already and my blogging has really gone by the wayside. Much of my computer time these days is spent doing edits of Kiva loan descriptions, and of course lately I've been Christmas shopping online. There are winter projects lined up, too, involving a personal recipe book I've been working on for years and also the Dropbox photo albums Marty and I have been trying to find time for. Good thing I'm going to live forever!
I bit the bullet the other day and bought an artificial Christmas tree at WalMart. I never thought I would do such an awful thing. Christmas trees have to be REAL trees, preferably a LIVE tree, right?! However, we've not had any kind of tree for the last 2 or 3 years, and it just got too sad. Having no little children around changes the character of the holiday season entirely, and I guess that was my excuse. During those "off" years, though, it was nice to rid myself of all the "shoulds" and "oughts" that used to surround Christmas.
Anyway, here it is. THE TREE. Pretty poor excuse, but better than nothing... that's all I can say. Maybe next year I'll have a better idea how to arrange the branches so it isn't all cattiwampus.
Now to get the shopping done. Groan. Oh, and the Christmas cards, too! Oops.