Alrighty, one month left for this year and then everything starts fresh.
Unless of course, we all die on the 21st.
That would mean no Christmas.
Personally, I'm not going to do anything different. I would still get to celebrate Yule even if the world ends, though I highly doubt that it will. We won't even have a blip of a problem. Everything will just keep going like it always has until the sun explodes or we create a nuclear winter or whatever from human pollution. That could be interesting to witness but I'm not cheering you on people.
If I'm offending you with my lack of Christmas spirit, then I apologize because Christmas for me isn't about buying a bunch of junk for people or putting up ridiculous decoration because tradition dictates that you should. Christmas for me is not about what I receive from the mythical Santa guy or the music that I can't stand because it has started playing as soon as Halloween is over.
I'm a total Scrooge if you want to go that route but I've stopped caring what people think so go ahead and knock your socks off trying to get a rise out of me.
Frankly, I'm old school. When I think Christmas, I think of laughing and sharing stories and general being together with my family. I don't care if they give me a gift or not (I'd actually prefer not to get gifts because they make me feel guilty), I just care that they're around and love me.
I think of the smell of pine in the house and the smiles on my brothers' faces. I think of curling up, wrapped in a blanket (by a fire some years), with a physical book in my hands. I think of disconnecting just to be with my family, not about who's not calling or texting to tell me "Merry Christmas".
I think of the times when I was younger and people who I love and are no longer with us were around. I think about making snow people and sledding and a big mug of hot cocoa after your fingers go numb. Yes, I've grown out of enjoying the snow, but there was a time when I would run around with my brothers and ride the plastic sled down the hill, jumping out at the last second to avoid the tree at the bottom of the sledding hill...
I even remember building snow forts out of snow piles. I remember getting dad out in the snow to play with us. He was the best at either making us laugh or getting snow in our face via snowball. (Zac, I think you hold the record for snow in the face but Zeke's a very close second). Dad was the best at fixing our snow forts too.
I think of broken glass jello, and birthday cakes to Jesus made by grandma, now made by mom. I remember cheesy potatoes and spiral cut, honey glazed ham that made the whole house smell sweet. I remember cinnamon rolls and sausage balls.
I remember the one time Santa hid all of Zac's presents because he was a grinch.
I remember giving mom and dad handmade gifts from school because I made them and they were automatically awesome no matter how ugly they were.
I remember getting my first tattoo with mom for Christmas when I was 16.
It's still not about the material stuff though and as many would agree, people in general have lost touch of that. I don't want to stop you from getting people gifts or decorating your yard with thousands of lights so that you can see your house from outer space, just think about the people around you. Think about family and why Christmas meant so much to you as a kid. Make a memory instead of buying a gift. Sometimes that's tons more valuable.
So please excuse my lack of shopping enthusiasm and the fact that I don't plan on celebrating anyone but my family's births. Daddy, I love you! Happy Birthday! Heather, you're my favorite twin! Happy Birthday! Grandpa Doug, thank you for being around and always offering me your love. Happy Birthday! Grandma, even though I might not be able to make the journey to put a rose on your grave this year, know that I'm thinking of you. This was your favorite time of year and I will never forget the broken glass jello no matter where I am or how old I get. It's tradition.
On that note, I look forward to the end of this school semester. It's been tough and stressful but I've got a week left of classes and finals week after that. Two weeks from today and I'll be headed home. There is a light at the end of this tunnel of trials. Thanks for sticking with me people. It was a bumpy ride and with some luck we'll make it to see 2013 and Zac's graduation from high school (man, do I feel old). I don't know what the future may bring for me but I know that all I can hope to think about is one day. One day at a time, slow and steady. No winning or losing, just living. That's all I need.
I hope you enjoy whatever you do with the end of this year. Enjoy your family, enjoy your friends, enjoy the memories you have with them.
And most importantly, stay safe.
Blessed Be
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