christmas decor at the gaylord texan hotel and resort
Yep, those are shotgun shells. What can I say? I live in texas. ;-)
I used to be so bah-humbug about this time of year. I was working two jobs. One was my 'real' job-the 40 or 50 hours I put in at the office. The other was managing a band, which took up another 40 (or more) hours. This time of year meant nothing more to me than more obligations and stress as I worried over presents and cards and work parties and traveling to see family on top of everything else I was doing. Not to mention cold weather.
Bah humbug, I say.
That life was quite awhile ago but I held on to my ambivalence for this time of year for several years after that. I don't know why. Well, I kinda do. Habit. When the thoughts I'm thinking don't require any real thinking because they've formed grooves to travel through.
Then a couple of years ago I realized that hey, I actually don't really dislike this time of year. That was just an old habit thought, and one I didn't agree with anymore.
So I bah humbugged that scrooge within and set out to remember what I loved about this holiday.
You know what I love most about this time of year? It's one of the few times (it seems to me anyway), where we give each other permission to collectively believe in magic.
And I embrace that wholeheartedly. Which means you'll have to put up with me gleefully rolling around in christmas cheer for the next few weeks.
I'll apologize now if I get annoying. ;-)
5 comments:
i say,'LET THE GLEE ROLLING BEGIN!!! i love the evergreens with the shotgun shells. i think i'll make one for my son the hunter.
i am all about the magic.
you know what did it for me? giving up the silly idea that i had to send out christmas cards BEFORE christmas! advent is the time of waiting and reflecting and getting ready (prepare the way of the lord, ring any bells?). there is nothing in the manual that says that all christmas must be rushed and ready by the saturday after thanksgiving. we take our time getting the tree trimmed and don't buy as many presents but rather experiences that we share together. and i do still write christmas cards, but starting AFTER christmas, as it is still the christmas season for several more weeks (i like to call it a very european tradition). thank you for reminding me that there is a bit of magic afoot. i think i need to find something special to do to welcome my family to their new home this week (which is another reason to take it easy this year!)
enjoy the day!
erin
MAY THE ELF VOMITING BEGIN!
Oh, my lord, I love the shotgun shells... my uncles would so love that!
I had the exact same transformation you're talking about, brandi, where for a long time Christmas meant stress and overwhelm and nothing good. Then one year, I suddenly *loved* it. I've never again been quite so giddy with it, but honestly, it's become one of my favorite seasons -- and I love to do it up!
I think you've hit upon one of the core reasons why it's so wonderful: permission to believe in magic. I'd never thought of it that way. Wonderful post!
I've been much the same. For years I have dreaded Christmas and all it entails. However, last year I started to think that maybe a lot of thet was habit, left over from the worst years of my life, and maybe, just maybe, I could enjoy Christmas after all. This year, we are planning a much more relaxed, fun Christmas - buffet dinner rather than the whole massive roast we usually have, fewer, more meaningful presents, and old fashioned party games that everyone can join in with. I'm even looking forward to putting up the decorations!
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