Getting Back to Normal
Jody's recent blog inspired me to post this.
That being said, I don't really know how to begin - other than to say . . . I really don't like holidays. Christmas is probably my least favorite of all - maybe because it seems to last the longest. It's certainly not because I don't like being with my family, because I do. It's also not because I don't think the lights are pretty or because I don't believe in the true meaning of Christmas, because I do. I just think Christmas is stressful. Perhaps it's because I feel EXPECTED to decorate, expected to be jolly, expected to shop, expected to love doing all this. I TRY to be merry all the time, and I always love being with my family no matter what day it is. Perhaps I don't care for Christmas because I don't like winter and the lack of sunshine. Maybe I don't like Christmas because I'm afraid as hard as I try to do my part in making everyone have a wonderful holiday, that they won't, and I'll feel responsible. I do love Christmas in my living room, with my family, but that's about all.
I hosted Christmas Breakfast this year, just like I have for the past 22 yearsf. Mom, Wayne, Lila, Farrah, Jim, Jeff and myself enjoyed a sit-down meal at 9:00 a.m. Farrah and Jim were expected in Louisville by 3:00 and since they wanted to stop in Lexington on their way, they left about 11:00 a.m. (They had been with us since the 22nd). The rest were out of here by 11:30. To make a long story short, by 2:00 p.m., there was no sign of Christmas in our condo. The tree had been taken down, the decorations put away, the leftovers were in the fridge, and everything was BACK TO NORMAL. It was the best feeling I'd had in weeks!
December 26th is another story. For 22-23 years (we've lost track), Jeff and I have spent the entire day "out and about" the day after Christmas. We leave the house about 7:00 a.m. and return when we're ready. We go to lots of stores and shop or just browse. The only thing we always look for are Christmas cards and wrapping paper for the next year. Other than that we just go to where are mood takes us. Some years we have spent most of the day in the antique mall, other years we have walked through downtown Cincinnati. Thanks to our parents we have Christmas money, so we have the luxury of keeping our eyes open for anything that might strike our fancy. This day is totally stress free as there are no "have-to's". We just enjoy being together and seeing where the day takes us. It is our tradition, however, to have lunch at Red Lobster. We usually end our day at Perkins. This year we left the house at 6:45 a.m. and got home at 8:30 p.m. It was a great day!
So, I can't say I didn't enjoy Christmas, because I did, but I'm GLAD IT'S OVER.
That being said, I don't really know how to begin - other than to say . . . I really don't like holidays. Christmas is probably my least favorite of all - maybe because it seems to last the longest. It's certainly not because I don't like being with my family, because I do. It's also not because I don't think the lights are pretty or because I don't believe in the true meaning of Christmas, because I do. I just think Christmas is stressful. Perhaps it's because I feel EXPECTED to decorate, expected to be jolly, expected to shop, expected to love doing all this. I TRY to be merry all the time, and I always love being with my family no matter what day it is. Perhaps I don't care for Christmas because I don't like winter and the lack of sunshine. Maybe I don't like Christmas because I'm afraid as hard as I try to do my part in making everyone have a wonderful holiday, that they won't, and I'll feel responsible. I do love Christmas in my living room, with my family, but that's about all.
I hosted Christmas Breakfast this year, just like I have for the past 22 yearsf. Mom, Wayne, Lila, Farrah, Jim, Jeff and myself enjoyed a sit-down meal at 9:00 a.m. Farrah and Jim were expected in Louisville by 3:00 and since they wanted to stop in Lexington on their way, they left about 11:00 a.m. (They had been with us since the 22nd). The rest were out of here by 11:30. To make a long story short, by 2:00 p.m., there was no sign of Christmas in our condo. The tree had been taken down, the decorations put away, the leftovers were in the fridge, and everything was BACK TO NORMAL. It was the best feeling I'd had in weeks!
December 26th is another story. For 22-23 years (we've lost track), Jeff and I have spent the entire day "out and about" the day after Christmas. We leave the house about 7:00 a.m. and return when we're ready. We go to lots of stores and shop or just browse. The only thing we always look for are Christmas cards and wrapping paper for the next year. Other than that we just go to where are mood takes us. Some years we have spent most of the day in the antique mall, other years we have walked through downtown Cincinnati. Thanks to our parents we have Christmas money, so we have the luxury of keeping our eyes open for anything that might strike our fancy. This day is totally stress free as there are no "have-to's". We just enjoy being together and seeing where the day takes us. It is our tradition, however, to have lunch at Red Lobster. We usually end our day at Perkins. This year we left the house at 6:45 a.m. and got home at 8:30 p.m. It was a great day!
So, I can't say I didn't enjoy Christmas, because I did, but I'm GLAD IT'S OVER.
posted by SMSSecretary at 8:48 PM
2 Comments:
I think it's safe to say a lot of your feelings are shared by many. You have some very nice traditions. :-)
I know exactly what you mean, Tammy. Christmas should not be about all of the chaos and stress that it's come to be about. It should be about family, spending time with loved ones, etc. Glad you enjoyed your day with your husband!
Post a Comment
<< Home