Maddie-the-Great has loved Christmas since she was old enough to sort of know what it was. The look of excitement when she sees that "Santa's been here!!" (usually yelled at the top of her lungs), brings a lump to my throat each time. She gets so happy as she opens each present. She says, "Santa brought me just what I wanted!"
The Big Guy is an even bigger fan of Christmas than I am. He is the one who insists we bring out all the old Christmas things again and again, even tho they are becoming tattered and torn. (And I pretty much agree with him.) I've been trying for years to rein-in his gift- giving some, but he seems convinced that more is always better!
Poor T.A. had the misfortune of marrying into a family of Christmas-addicts! His reactions are more controlled and he is not as sentimental about the traditional things. But each year he understands a little bit better than the year before. Ratchlet and M-t-G's feelings about the holiday, must be rubbing off on him by now!
Every year I promise myself I will get things all done early so that they can be enjoyed throughout the season. And every year the promise goes by the wayside. Even if I get an early start, I am still playing catch-up at some point. Maybe its because I buy too much, or decorate too much, or delay wrapping too much, or several other "too muches" or it might be because everything absolutely must be finished by 3:00 pm Christmas Eve, whatever the reason or combination of reasons, about a week before Christmas, I get to feeling like a Grinch! It all becomes overwhelming and too much work and I start to snarl at my loved ones. All I want to do is go back to bed and skip straight to Easter, a much less high-maintenance holiday.
I thought this year, being retired and all, I could get things done in a leisurely manner.....no rush, no fuss. Take my time, do a little bit every day until its all done. Doesn't seem to be working so far. I'm behind, as usual. I haven't completely given up hope for no rush, no fuss, but it most probably will become big rush/big fuss, just like always.
Then at about 3:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, I'll take a deep breath, and all of a sudden, its "the most wonderful time of the year" again. Its a tradition.
Can you find Waldo..unh...Maddie-the Great??
Oh, this describes me perfectly. Every year, I think that I'm going to get done early enough to enjoy it all BEFORE Christmas Eve arrives. It's never happened, and it certainly isn't happening this year. Every year, I say to myself "next year will be different", but every year I'm still decorating the day before Christmas Eve! I have never left my Christmas decor up past New Year's Eve, but this year I've decided it's not coming down that quickly. I'm not sure I'll have it put up by February. Loved the story about the best gifts making you cry. laurie
ReplyDeleteI knew that there are others like me out there! Now I feel lots better!
ReplyDelete:-) Thanks for stopping by!! Our family has always had our things up until January 6 (Three Kings' Day); its another one of those German Catholic traditions. I still do that so I can enjoy everything once it is finally in place!! I guess there aren't too many German Catholics in my part of TX, by the 6th almost everybody else has their things down and put away!
I rarely do any Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving. Fall and Thanksgiving are my favorites and I don't want anything red and green interrupting my gold and rust and brown and orange mood.
ReplyDeleteAs for being retired, I remember a physician once who came by after he retired and said, "It's interesting, it now takes me the whole morning to do those things I used to do on my lunch hour!" Such is the joy of retirement!
I've actually been somewhat relaxed this week. The first part of December, though, seemed to be PACKED with commitments. I'm glad it has already slowed down.
ReplyDeleteI still have plenty of wrapping to do though!
Merry Christmas!