I had almost forgotten what a crazy tempest of pressure and expectations Christmas can be. Colene is lamenting a little about her lack of significant other and family pressure. Vern is singing a slightly different tune – however he is obviously insane as well.
Nobody’s seemed to echo my sentiments on the holiday of late however – so I figure I’ll weigh in on the debate.
I. Love. Christmas. I always have, and likely always will. My family has a low enough dysfunction level, and enough common sense that it’s never been one of those huge be-all-end-all occasions with debt and pressure and not much fun. It’s only grown better as my cousins, brothers and I have grown up. Nobody spends exhorbitant amounts of money on anyone else. Gifts are either thoughtful or useful. No kitsch, no filler.
It’s even better now that there are no little kids around to impress or build grand illusions for. The presents live under the tree until Christmas morning, when we leisurely get up, have coffee (usually with liquor of some sort) and laugh while watching the dog go bezerk with his stocking and the wrapping paper. We drink a lot, eat a lot, and generally spend the day relaxing. The only exceptions to this are when we sober up long enough to go to Christmas mass, and about 15 minutes of hurrying as all the Christmas dinner dishes are finishing up cooking and need plating at the same time.
This will also be the first Christmas since I was bout 13 (can we say codependent?) that I’ve been single. It’s a HUGE weight off of my shoulders. Not only does it leave me with a nice extra chunk of cash in the Christmas budget, but it also means no juggling of families that, frankly, are not as cool as mine.
I understand everyone has different experiences that shape their personal feelings about the winter holiday season, but I wish the same for all of you: No matter what you choose to do with the holiday (whether it’s a whirlwind of everything or ignoring it and doing nothing), may it be rewarding and relaxing, and exactly what you want it to be.
I just wish I could be with friends for the holidays… thats what’s important to me.
I miss you so!
Sorry to be the Scrouge, but I want my Christmas to be the same thing I’ve wanted it to be for a long time: Gone. Over and done with.
Mind you, the one other holiday that I’ve always avoided turned itself around for me last year. So you never know.
hear hear! Christmas is always so much fun — although I think it’s even more fun when you have really young kids involved. I’m really looking forward to watching Carol Ann open her presents.
Actually, her birthday is Saturday, so we get a test run as to how Christmas’ll go, too. Conveniently, she’s too young to go completely crazy over anything until we tell her to, so I’m not going to be rudely awoken at 6am by an annoying child. No, instead I’ll be rudely awoken at 8am by annoying parents… 🙂 But that’s okay, Christmas is worth getting up early.
The only downside is that I also have to go visit my Dad’s family sometime during the day. Meh. What a pain.
Even single, I find the Christmas season very rewarding. I love the get-togethers, even when I am solo, and although I did grumble at the beginning of the season about going alone to events, I’m now really getting into the spirit of things.
I find it refreshing to be single during this time of year, actually! How else could I flirt incessantly with all the single men at the parties, and still have room in my budget to spoil my family?
I don’t always want to be single — This is my second Christmas sans sig other, but I’ve decided to enjoy it while it lasts. It’s all good!
I am beginning to love Christmas, too. My future husband’s family sounds a lot like yours. Good presents, good food and drink, good fun. Mine, on the other hand, is a disaster. The only sad thing about Christmas, for me, is that every second year we have to spend it with MY relations. This year is one of those years. *sigh*