And So, It Begins

(Jeez, I didn’t realize a certain repulsive had made this same comment about something else entirely right when I was putting up this blog post. Believe me, separate topic and no connection.)

Well, it’s November. Officially the start of the holiday season (for me, anyway). I have plans. Lots of them. Always do. The only thing I don’t have is enough time to implement them all, especially since I still have end-of-the-growing-season jobs outside to do and all the book signings coming up. So, I guess I must pick and choose.

I always dream big this this time of year. Dream big and wonder why I didn’t have these dreams in July instead of November, when there’s a little more time before Christmas. After all, the whole Christmas in July thing is going on then. Why don’t I jump on the bandwagon while the sun is still hot? To be honest, I do. I start thinking about Christmas then (sometimes I start in January—depends on my mood), but I don’t buckle down in July. Instead, I walk around with all these Christmas-y goals in my head, and my hands rarely implement a single one.

Year after year, I have high hopes for Christmas. I possess fond memories of Christmases as a child and all my mother did to make it magical for us kids. Not just my mother. The Christmas vibe seemed to be everywhere. The whole season was like a lovely flower slowly opening, starting with the arrival of the Sears Christmas catalogue in the mail (who remembers those? let me know in the comments) and culminating on New Year’s Day (at which point, I have to confess, little kid me spent the day rather depressed, especially since everyone in the house slept in and I did not–it was awfully quiet).

That’s the road I always strive to take, making Christmas wonderful, despite my kids all being grown. Each year, I know I will likely fall short of my goals, but I do so want to make it special for everyone. I celebrate Christmas in the way I do for those I love, and I love a lot of people. My kids and their partners come first on the list. Next with barely an eighth inch to spare are my brothers and their wives, cousins, nieces, nephews, (and the grands in the next generation), and, of course, friends. Definitely friends. Those I have mean the world to me.

So yeah, I have plans (including a small, casual Christmas party I am greatly looking forward to), but I should be resigning myself to not achieving them all. I won’t though. I’ll go on thinking I’ll meet my holiday goals, and then when reality hits…well, that’s another story.

In writing this, however, I am determined to remind myself it doesn’t matter. All the trappings, the gift-giving, the endless hours of Christmas music on the Bose, the lights outside and in, the beautifully decorated trees (yes, I said trees, lol), the cheery decor spread throughout the house, don’t ultimately matter.

What matters is this: Being together. During COVID, my kids and I celebrated Christmas here in my garage with the door wide open, so there was plenty of space between us and ice-cold air circulating around us all. No decorations. Just the usual stuff you expect to find in a garage (sans car, which was parked in the driveway). And you know what? It was perfect. Perfect in a year where horrible isolation was the theme.

The decorations don’t make Christmas. The music doesn’t make Christmas. The gifts don’t even make Christmas. We do.

We, as people, sharing our time, our love, our hearts, with family and friends and neighbors. Being kind to strangers. Offering support where needed. Opening our mouths and saying “Merry Christmas” with heartfelt sentiment and wishing those of different beliefs a fantastic, happy holiday of their own. Remembering the whole world is our community.

So, I’ll try not to stress over my goals. Maybe just put up one tree and realize that’s all I need (yikes!–although I do remember several Christmases when I didn’t even put up the one). Sing Christmas carols at the top of my lungs as I go about my day and not worry about where I might be falling short. Most importantly, rejoice in the love I have for family and friends. Rejoice in the fact they love me. Rejoice in the fact we can spend time in each other’s company. If not on Christmas Day, sometime in the season spending a few hours talking and laughing with those we care about.

Yep. Together. That’s the real goal.

Merry Christmas early everyone. I plan (there’s that word again) to do more holiday posts, but I’m not going to kick myself in the butt if they don’t happen. My best to you all!