When you’ve been through as many Christmases as I have the clues that it’s that time of year are pretty hard to miss.
You know how I know it’s Christmas? (And it’s a dead giveaway) There’s a poinsettia in the sink, the sink! You know how I know it’s Christmas? The roaster pan I make Chex Party Mix hasn’t been put away for three weeks and is drying near the sink right now. You know how I know it’s Christmas? There’s booze on the counter in the kitchen. Ah, the signs of the season!
I know it’s Christmas because I’m trying to figure out what to buy everyone and dreading the credit card statement in January. I know it’s Christmas because the Huskers aren’t on television every Saturday any longer and I’ve printed out the bowl schedule and made plans this year, finally, to watch every bowl game. I know it’s Christmas because I’m writing a letter once again attempting to put the events of one year on one page and do it in a whole new way. I know it’s Christmas because I’m intimately aware of the amperage of fuses smaller than the Alleve I’ll have to take to get over the backache from hanging lights.
It must be Christmas because I’m hoping to watch all the old Christmas cartoons I used to love so much (Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas). I’m also looking forward to watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Christmas Story” over and over and over. It must be Christmas because I’ve laid out my Grandma Frederick’s winter scene jigsaw puzzle and started to put it together. It must be Christmas because I’ve cheated death once again on the ladder and roof. It must be Christmas because I find myself a little melancholy and a lot sentimental about the way the season used to be for me as a kid.
Today Christmas is more about volunteering and contributing to toy drives and charities than it has ever been for me (that’s a good thing). Today Christmas is more about making memories for young kids that they can look back on fondly when they’re older like me. Today Christmas is so much less about the gifts we buy in the store and so much more about the gifts we give our family during this season; the gifts of time, love, friendship, support and togetherness. Today Christmas is so much bigger than the 25th of December and so much smaller because it’s all about a baby born more than a couple thousand years ago.
I think you’ve seen the signs of the season; you know that it’s Christmas and in fact you’re sure of it. The item in question, as is always the case, is what is Christmas about for you this year? It’s my hope and prayer that the meaning, the richness and the memories of this Christmas season are the best ever.
What are your memories of Christmas past and what are your hopes for this Christmas. I hope you’ll share them below.
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