The holidays are drawing near and in years past, because of the rush of Christmas customers at the post office, I had a hard time getting into the spirit of the holidays. It wasn't something that I was concious of but it happened nonetheless.
I used to try and get my Christmas shopping done before the season really got going, but most years that just wasn't possible. A few years ago I had my shopping done by September first...last year I got done by December 5th I believe.
This year, I'm done with shopping. That last final gift was purchased yesterday and will be delivered to me tomorrow. No standing in long lines at the checkout, no fighting for a place to park or fight to grab the special gift. It's done, it's over, and all that is left now is to wrap those gifts, not my strong point by any means, and then the Christmas cards will be made out and readied to go into the mail next week as Thanksgiving approaches.
We will enjoy Thanksgiving with family, we will be able to get our Christmas decorating done and lights lit up AFTER Thanksgiving, which is really the way it should be. Thanksgiving should be allowed to stand alone as its own holiday and on its own merits. It's one of those holidays I look so forward to because there's no rush involved, no gifts that just have to be bought. Food is prepared, set on the table and family spends time together and simply enjoys being together.
Then comes Christmas, and for me, once again this year, we can turn our lights and tree on after Thanksgiving and enjoy the special season celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour. We can enjoy seeing everyone's lights, watch those special shows on TV that we enjoy seeing this time of year and all in all, just enjoy the season without all the rush and overkill that so many let run and ruin their Christmas season.
And after Christmas, my favorite relaxing holiday of New Years Eve and New Years Day. Special recipes, a table full of food, a few beers to relax to, a few drinks of Peg's choosing, and then, our celebratory bottle of Asti Spumante, shared with each other in our special trumpet glasses that only get used that one time each year. No company, no parties, just movies on the DVD player and snuggles, hugs and hopefully time in the hottub and a nice peaceful and quiet evening, full of love and sharing between just the two of us.
Yes, absolutely, let those holidays begin!
