I don’t perceive myself as an “Ebenezer Scrooge” type, yet there are definitely parts of the Christmas holiday when I have those “bah humbug” moments.  I don’t think I’m alone. Let’s face it, Christmas can be stressful at the best of times, and I’m trying very hard not to get caught up in all the “crazy” if that’s at all possible. However, I’m slowly getting excited about the holidays. No thanks to the elaborate Christmas displays and the holiday music blaring throughout the stores, it’s borderline shoving it in your face. We’ve been brainwashed into an early holiday season; again, panic has set in! Seriously though, I’m actually okay with it. Sometimes you have to say, WTF and enjoy it for what it is!  Just remember to breathe…if you don’t find that perfect gift, it’s okay, so long as it’s not mine, LOL!

My last post was about my Christmas “past,” my childhood memories, and keeping traditions with my own family going forward. Although my Christmas “present” will be slightly different, maybe a bit complicated, factoring in my split from my husband and that my older children will probably have plans of their own, Christmas is forever evolving.

I love to “deck the halls,” so to speak. Still, after much protest from my family about purchasing an artificial tree,  I’ve been forced to buy a real Christmas tree. Although my older son, who is away at university, definitively said, “I’m not coming home from school if you have a fake tree,“  my younger son informed me that he would be throwing the fake one out!  So with that, bylaws or no bylaws, it will be a covert operation with stealth late-night arrival of a fresh Christmas tree, which will be decked traditionally.  At least that’s the plan for now…

My sons and I (my youngest never making it to the end) usually stay up late on Christmas Eve to watch “A Christmas Carol,” with Alister Sims, the best version (in my opinion).  Last year we switched it up for “Love Actually,” and I hope we continue the tradition this year, regardless of the movie choice.  Christmas Eve has always been about hanging out together and guessing the presents under the tree because that’s what kids do, right?  We never grow up…

Christmas morning will undoubtedly be me waking up first. Gone are those 5 am mornings with little feet running through the house to open stockings.  I know what you’re thinking. Yes, they were adorable when they were little and to be honest, they’re still adorable, even grown-up.  Coffee is first and foremost but with a large swig of Bailey’s, of course!   Opening presents, this is not a ceremonious event, nor are we that family that lingers over breakfast before gift opening; please, who does that?!   It’s literally a race to the tree, a little organized chaos with gift wrap flying in every direction but careful to note who the gift was from.  At the end of it, my mom will try to rescue any bits of carnage to reuse for the following year.  Somethings you can’t change.

I have no intention of changing the Christmas dinner menu. I have been serving up the same turkey dinner for as long as I can remember. Everyone seems to love (or so they tell me). Keep it simple. If it ain’t broke, why fix it, right?! As for who’s sitting around the table this year, it’s still a work in progress…I enjoy having a large crowd. However, this year might be an intimate size guest list. I’ve learned from my mother, always cook more than you need, that said, we’ll have lots of food for any last-minute guests.

My Christmas “yet to come” or Christmas future conjures many thoughts.  What will that look like?  My sons with partners and children? Will my mom live to see her 100th Christmas? I hope so. How will the world look, then?  Will it be possible to turn on the news one day to hear that people are making a difference and the world is a better place? So, this Christmas, I wish to slow down and not stress about the holidays. Instead, enjoy the beautiful things in your Christmas “present,” try to make a difference or conscious change in some little way, so that we all have many more Christmas’ “yet to come.”

LC

xo