The election is over so I suppose I can have dinner in peace now. Laura Bush won’t be calling me again this week. I guess she has her priorities. She can’t just call to say “hello”. Anyway, she’s probably moved on to more important things, like Christmas shopping.
I’ve already sent one box of holiday goodies and I’ve ordered a gift. Yeah for me! I’m one of those old-fashioned people who usually doesn’t get into the holiday mood until after Thanksgiving. That’s the tradition I grew up with- it isn’t the “holiday season” until after the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. However, with children and grandchildren scattered in other states, I’ve had to get used to buying and shipping early.
When I worked for Macy’s we watched the display staff start their holiday plans in August. It was fun to peek in their studio and see what the season would bring. Each year there was a major theme for the store. There were lavish trees and garlands and extra mannequins and a guest pianist or harpist. The store looked and smelled and sounded like a wonderland for about ten weeks. ‘Course in retail about three weeks of “holiday cheer” is about all anyone can tolerate. After that you’re just going through the motions. Believe me, I don’t miss 10pm in gift wrap!
I’m a little ambivalent about the holidays this year. This will be our first year without anyone here. Oh, I’ll visit my dad and see a couple of my brothers on Christmas Eve. I’ll probably manage to see a few other relatives during Christmas break. But this will be the first time Gary and I will celebrate Christmas truly alone. I’m sure it will still be worth celebrating! Jesus is the reason we have Christmas and He certainly hasn’t moved off and left us, despite our recent church problems.
We stayed home this morning and didn’t even visit another church. I’m sniffling and coughing through my first cold of the season. That’s the worst part of the approaching winter. I’ve hooked up the electric blanket, unpacked sweaters and coats, turned on the heater, and taken the afghans and heavy robes out of storage. But I can’t figure out how to prevent these persistent winter sniffles. It seems that everywhere you turn, someone is sick and “working anyway”. There is no way to avoid germs. I try to stay as healthy as possible and I rarely get “sick in the bed” sick, but sniffles…ugh!
Gary and I took a little walk this morning after the sun had warmed things up a bit. (No I won’t get sicker by walking outside!) The trees are so beautiful! Gary took some pictures and I’ll post them later this week. I never walk down our road without thinking about my mother and grandmother and my great-grandmother doing the same thing. This old road and these old trees have seen several generations of my family. I suppose I should think about that on Christmas Day. The house where I spent many childhood holidays is just across the street. My mother, grandparents, great-grandparents, and other relatives are buried in a little cemetery just down the road. I can never be alone when I’m surrounded by so many happy memories!
As you begin your preparations for Christmas I hope you will take care of your health and not get too stressed. Enjoy your time with family and friends and remember, this is about Jesus, not the latest “it” gift. Many of those will be broken or forgotten before the warranty expires. Only love and faith last.
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