A Christmas Wish

It has been a difficult six weeks in our house. The November election was closely followed by my broken finger and Rob's five-week virus. Our various cars were in the shop four times, construction times doubled on our refinished stairs, and work challenges flared intermittently. Friends of ours had crazy vet bills, surgeries, more car trouble, etc. to the extent that all I want for Christmas is rest. In a world of trouble these are but minor irritations, een champagne problems, but they wear on me, sapping a measure of my vitality and optimism.

I'm oddly nostalgic for Christmas during the pandemic year, which was full of neighborhood lights, Christmas cards out my ears, long walks, drives (to see more lights), and family Zooms. Christmas 2024 feels like our whole country has hit the fast forward button again, with shocking headlines (daily), neighbors struggling to get lights on despite our warm weather, low Christmas card inventory, and adult kids coming home to an empty fridge. I don't wish for the return of the pandemic, but just an iota of the time and space it bought us.

I have a head cold and William was sick all night with either food poisoning or a stomach bug, but after work today we can have at least two days to ourselves, sleeping in, attending to cherished family rituals, baking and reading next to the tree.  We wish everyone a few days of rest and peace, time to count the blessings that intermix with our list of challenges, and some long walks with space to breathe. Thank you to all those who work on the holiday - I hope you also get time and space to rest and may good health and moments of joy lead the way into 2025 for us all. 

The Holiday Whoop-de-doo

It's that time of year again, when the Costco lot overflows and I park so far away that my watch asks me if we are taking an outdoor walk before I get to the sliding front doors. That time when the New York Times offers op ed pieces entitled "How to Navigate Awkward Holiday Parties" and my compulsion to decorate the house takes precedence over work-related to do's.

At Thanksgiving we had the best possible large-family holiday meal. Fifty of us were comfortable seated in Rob's cousin's beautiful remodeled barn, and the long wall was lined with crockpots on table after table, all conveniently plugged into a row of power strips. (It may have been a Guiness-record number of crock pots!) The food was delicious, and my mother-in-law, Connie, went above and beyond to ensure that we celiac troublemakers had enough menu options. We even had our own mini-crock filled with GF stuffing, and a well-labeled (non-celiacs stay back!) GF, DF apple pie.

Having enjoyed the hustle and bustle of connecting and catching up with a myriad of uncles, cousins, aunts and youngsters, our small party of five now looks forward to a simple Christmas in front of the fire, with Aden's favorite GF/DF sweet potatoes (with marshmallows), our traditional candy apples, and cats on laps during a blissful day of doing nothing.

We've reached the age where only a few presents collect under the tree. (If one present is a phone, the other two will be socks and a Starbucks gift card!) The chatter of multiple conversations will be replaced by hymns and carols on Spotify, and instead of leftovers we will eat our usual Christmas dinner of potstickers and egg rolls.  

Traditions morph and children grow into adults and yet the joy of the season can continue unvarnished - especially if one ignores all news and sets up healthy boundaries on early departure times from aforementioned holiday parties. Cards may be sent into the New Year, friends may visit an unclean house, and the 100-day cough may still linger, but by golly this could be the best holiday ever!