Being a Christian, it’s in my spiritual DNA to love this holiday. I do love Christmas, but today I want to confess, one of the reasons I enjoy the holidays so much has nothing to do with the “reason for the season”.I love the colors, smells, and decorations of Christmas. I like Christmas trees so much that I want to have a Christmas Forest. Currently I have three trees and none are decorated, go figure. Regardless, I have lots of ornaments, expensive ones (purchased half price on Dec. 26th through the years) and homemade ones. Remember the ones we made in Elementary School out of Styrofoam egg cartons and pipe cleaners? Weren't they tacky?
I love the baking that is traditional with the holidays. This is the time of year when Russian Tea Cakes, Divinity and Fudge abound. This is also the time of year that Mom made Spiced Tea and the only time we drink it.
I like the movies and music we all associate with the holidays, especially the old stuff. Bing Crosby singing Jingle Bells or White Christmas is the best. Oddly enough, however, I can't stand Christmas Cantatas.
If you are a lost soul (Christian or otherwise), rent It’s a Wonderful Life and watch it like finding your happiness on earth depended on it. I think it sums up the meaning of life pretty well.
I like the idea of Santa Claus. I remember vividly the day I realized there was no Santa, it happened just last week. My favorite part of Christmas as a kid was the stocking. Mom hung our stocking on the post of our beds. It was great to wake up at 4 in the morning and burrow through that billowing bag of benevolence while we waited for the adults to wake up....would they EVER get up?
I love gifts. I know they say it is better to give than to receive, but I like both. I like to wrap presents because I like boxes and paper and bows and the little tags we put on them. And I LOVE IT when I receive a gift that is wrapped exceptionally well (in a box). It is my believe that a mediocre gift wrapped well will be well received. It's the attention to details that make the difference.
As you can see, I am a sucker for packaging. The Christmas season is “packaged” so magically. It glitters, twinkles, and sparkle and I love every frivolous, goofy thing that comes only during this time of year.
Forgive me.
5 comments:
I know there is a photo that exist of me sitting on Santa's lap. I've seen it. I need it for this post, don't you think? If anyone in my family has it, hand it over.
Gosh, Catherine, I have some much in my head that flooded in there when I saw the pics you posted with this Confessional. I remember (as if I were there right now) exactly what I felt as I was working on that tree. Your dad wasn't much of a tree trimmer. Once he got it into the house, he figured his job was done. Bill, Glory and sometimes David wanted to help, but I didn't really want help. I wanted the tree to end up looking exactly like I saw it in my head. Was selfish of me I know. In the second picture, I had to laugh at Glory with her pose. It seemed like when a camera was pointed at her, she would straighten up, lengthen her neck and raise her chin. I always thought it was so cute. And Bill was just interested in everyone else. Not necessarily everyting else, but everyone else. And David was doing his thing. Didn't I have cute kids. You and Tom fulfilled the tradition nicely. Love you MOM
CAT -- your post reads like a Currier & Ives, if it prose instead of a painting.
Carlene -- you were one hot chick and YES< you have a lovely family.
I am one of eight children (that explains it all...) and I loved to wrap all those presents. I knew what everyone was getting. I think my mom chose me because I was the one kid who could keep a secret. I hate to admit it, but I am bah humbug-ish this year. It's okay, things will be different in three months, or at least that's what I keep 'hearing.' I just wish Christmas was't during the holidays.
P.S. I would like to CONFESS something for my sister ... I'm sure she would like it this way.
Let's see, she was 12, chubby, very tall and giant-like (think shrek) and my twin baby brothers were just turning one, December 20th. Cindy would put them in the double stroller, taking them for 'a little ride' around the corner, (out of mom's earshot) and stop the stroller, get in front of it and would yell as loud as she could, "HO! HO! HO! MEEEEEEEEEERRY CHRISTMAS!" (just like Santy Claus.) Of course the twins would return, tears streaming with cheeks as red as beets, from crying all the way home -- mom never did understand why the twins hated Santa so much.
See? I could keep a secret; Cindy could not-- she bragged to the neighborhood about her little excursions with the twins.
I love this post Hanna....You said everything I am thinking! I just love the music, lights, trees, decorations and the movies....I wish the feelings would last all year!!!! I am going to e-mail the pictures to you that I took Saturday.............Love You!
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