Tis the Season to be Jolly!

While I am first to admit this current/upcoming season brings out the worst in people, I'll also say that it brings out the best in me. This is my absolute favorite time of year. Who wouldn't love a time that makes them giddy and frantic with joy? I literally have my Christmas decorations and music sitting out, waiting for Thanksgiving to be over. Somehow (even for me, Ms. Christmas 2009) I can't bring myself to decorate or listen to Mannheim Steamroller until Thanksgiving has passed. It feels like cheating on another holiday. I mean, just because my Thanksgiving spirit has waned over the years doesn't mean it deserves to be brushed aside. I simply haven't had a traditional Thanksgiving in, well, this will be five years in a row, and I've never cared for the copious amounts of food and football that is involved. So without family around to enjoy the day with, it's become a personal holiday of mine. Instead of eating and chatting with family, I use the time to escape to the outdoors and breathe in the moments of peace before the chaotic Christmas crunch ensues.

Even though several friends kindly invited me to their Thanksgiving celebration, I prefer to spend the time alone. It's my own ritual that I will be more than happy to break when I have the chance, but for now it suits me. Despite my reluctance to join other families for Thanksgiving, I must say there is nothing like feeling cozy and included in a family willing to offer a meal, a chair, and some conversation to a stranger simply because another family member asked. It's so easy to say yes around the holidays. I think that's why I love this season. It turns me from a 50/50 yes/no sayer to a 100% yes woman. Not to sound trite, but the season really does remind me how fortunate I am, and while I understand this the rest of the year and try to show it where I can, the Christmas season asks me for a little bit more, and I gladly give it.

It's also the time of year that I get to spoil my loved ones. No, I do not think an expensive gift equates more love. That's not it at all. It's more of how much thought has been put into said gift or gesture. I save all year to make sure I can spoil my parents on Christmas. The more they say they don't need anything, the more I search for something they would never ever get for themselves. Especially now that I only see them a few times a year, I feel the need to show them that even if I'm incommunicado for a while, they are on my mind. I adore spending hours researching online or meandering through crowded malls to find that perfect sentiment. Normally I'm not a shopping fanatic, but during Christmas time? Look out. I'm never done (even if I say I am). Not only do I get to seek out a treasure for a loved one, but I get to be super nice in the process! It's not an act, I swear. In general, I'm fairly patient and kind to those stuck working in retail. I know how hectic and crazy it can get, and I like making people smile by actually talking to them rather ignoring their existence. And during the Christmas season, I'm just glowing with joy. If it takes twelve times as long to get something, I just smile and calmly wait it out. Other people start to stamp their feet or check their watches, and I chat them up, watching their impatience turn to amusement. I figure, if I'm ridiculously nice to everyone in that mess of chaos, then one of two things will happen:

1. The people I come into contact with will lighten up and turn their grouchiness into smiles.
                                                                or
2. The people I come into contact with will hate the fact that someone else is cheery and it will make them even crankier.

So either way I win. Because if I can make someone's day just a smidge better, then I'm overjoyed. If not, then that person probably deserves to be cranky and that just fuels my wide grin. Perhaps there's a bit of schadenfreude there, but what can I say? It's not as if I'm going around be fakely nice to everyone I meet. I simply can't help it. Blame the crisp air or sweet crumbles of Christmas baked goods. Blame the overplayed Christmas music that I hum along to. Blame the blinding tinsel and wrapping bits that I turn into collage style wrapping paper. And guess what? Your scrooge-like attitude is my high wattage, so bring it on!

I am certain I'll be posting more about the Christmas season as it unfolds, but for now I will just say that above anything else, Christmas means family to me. It's a time of warmth, generosity, and taking pleasure in one another 's company without agenda. 'Tis the season y'all!



photo source: teachyourselfturkish

solitary thought...

...can drive a person mad. Lately I've been thinking, more so than usual, and these thoughts seem to evaporate into space before I can wrangle them into some shape of text. So here I am, becoming a blogger (gads!) despite my previous contempt for the blog-o-spheric kingdom. It's not that I have something against this form of writing. It's more of a discontent-ness with the constant dribble that I see on blogs:

"Fed the cat 2day," (woop de do for you), "I feel so unhappy with myself and I hate it," (may I suggest a short walk and a sudden drop?), or "I saw _______ the movie last night and I thought it was sooo good. Like it was funny and that actor is soooo cute," (...).

Not to mention the extremely personal blogs that detail events that no one wants to read about. Of course, no one is forcing anyone else to read these blogs (thank goodness), but is nothing sacred anymore? Does every blessed detail of life need to be recorded in some way for the world to witness? I think not. And therefore, I can't say how often I will post blogs. Likely I will post when thoughts strike me and run through my head like honey slowly coating the insides of my brain. I will not post about how miserable I might be, how I feel about the economy, or what I did throughout my entire day.

The blog that inspired me is the blog of a friend from school, my namesake companion and future Mrs. W. Her blog details humor, offbeat thought, and simple marvels at the world around her. I can appreciate that kind of post. The pure enjoyment I get from reading her notes is enough to make me fancy my own thoughts and wonder what they look like in text rather than only swirling around in my head (other than the warped versions that appear in whatever story(ies) I happen to be cultivating at the moment).

In other words, stay tuned?