Ghosts of Holidays Past
December 18th, 2009Everybody says one of two things when describing how they feel about the holiday season. Universally, it’s either “I love the holidays!” or “I hate the holidays.”
It always makes me feel so out of place. Why? Because I don’t feel either way. Time off from work, I like. The department store soundtrack drowning me for six weeks, not so much. The excitement of my son’s face as he unwraps a present, absolutely… the memory of my divorce taking flight during my last holiday season at home, no thanks. To me, the holidays are like most things in life… they’re fine.
BTW, let’s not forget — the mad rush that your holidays become every year? Completely self-imposed. Still, you did sound a little run-down on the phone the other night and I have met at least some of your family, so you’re definitely cleared for introspection.
Of course, being a chick, you’re bound to comprise your calendar of holiday memories based on your love life. It’s very romantic (which actually seems a little out of character for you). I still think about my first bicycle when the holidays roll around… not particularly romantic, or mature I know, but it’s healthy to retain at least a smidgen of one’s innocence, no matter how old one gets.
I doubt either one of us is particularly unusual in reminiscing during the holidays. I’ll bet most people spend a larger-than-usual part of their time during the holidays doing the very same thing. I think what catches us by surprise during the holidays is NOT the reminiscing we do — it’s the looking ahead we feel compelled to do. Let’s say you’re someone whose life is full of great uncertainty at this time (uh, hello)… looking ahead might not be the most motivational idea to follow right now. On the other hand, let’s say you’re someone whose life is full of joy and satisfaction, for whatever reason at this time… looking ahead could very well translate into a truly inspirational holiday moment. I wouldn’t know about this firsthand, mind you… but I’d be willing to find out.
Thinking like a chick for a minute, maybe there is a romantic holiday memory I can share. There is one holiday season I can remember upon which they could have based a line of holiday greeting cards. It was fresh and new and I’d been romantically dormant for quite some time before I met her… It started in the fall and didn’t end until spring… its peak included the stretch of mid-November thru mid-January that year… It was my best holiday season since that first bicycle.
Sometimes you gotta accept… and sometimes you gotta believe.
