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A VARIATION ON CHRISTMAS
The Thanksgiving turkey has been picked clean, and the pumpkin pie, what was left of it, has been tossed into the trashcan. No more turkey sandwiches, casseroles, or salads. The colorful wreath of Autumn leaves has been replaced by one made of Hollyberries. One holiday down, and one to go.
I have always enjoyed Thanksgiving. But my heart belongs to Christmas. There is something about the season that makes me feel good just thinking about it. Oh, I can do without the gifts. They really aren't necessary for me now, as an adult. That part belongs mostly to the kids. But it's the music, the decorations, the smell of baked goods ... of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice wafting through the air, that gets ahold of me.
Christmas in the West isn't quite the Hallmark card holiday that one imagines when they think of this season. Even though snow isn't guaranteed in the rest of the country, there is still that chance that maybe ... just maybe ... it will be a white Christmas. No such luck here. Matter of fact, on our first Christmas back here, after spending the preceeding ten or so in Colorado, we headed to the beach with friends. We were missing the celebrations that we had shared with friends in Denver, where there was always a pretty good chance that we would be shoveling the white stuff on Christmas day. Since there was no chance that we could duplicate that, we decided that we might as well go with what we had. And that's just what we did. We hooked up with our friends who lived near the coast, and together, we packed up a Christmas tree, a CD player, a cooler filled with food, and our kids, and headed for the shore. We set up the tree in the sand, loaded a Beach Boy's Christmas CD into the stereo, and proceeded to celebrate the Southern California way. And we had a great time.
Before that little celebration on the beach, I had always wanted my holiday celebrations to be the way I had them pictured in my mind. The way they usually are in the old Christmas movies. Snow, and stars, and Midnight Mass. Bright-eyed children and rosy cheeks and snowball fights, followed by hot chocolate. The model train circling the tree. Perfectly wrapped packages. Everything in it's place, the way it should be. The problem is, life is not a Hallmark Christmas special. Matter of fact, it's more 'Christmas Vacation.'
After our 'Beach Boys celebration' I realized that I had a choice. I could be stubborn and unhappy, fretting that things weren't the way I had envisioned them to be. The way they were supposed to be. Or .... I could go with the flow. And thank goodness I decided to float along and see where the current took me. Because I ended up at a rather delightful place. A place I hadn't really intended to be, but one that I enjoyed the heck out of, nonetheless.
This Christmas season could be the once-in-a-hundred years or so that the L.A. area gets a dusting of the white stuff. But I doubt it. Or, it could be 85 degrees in the shade. More than likely it will be the typical Southern California winter day .... fifty-five to sixty degrees, gray and overcast. Whatever. It doesn't really matter. After all, no matter what the weather decides to do, I will still be able to listen to my holiday tunes, and enjoy my decorations, and bake a batch of cookies. That doesn't require snow. It just requires a sunny disposition. Here's to a beautiful Holiday season !
onemoretina at 11:47:00 PM PST Blog about this entry |
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Just a couple of days ago I was urging someone else in your neck of the woods to buck up and realize that Christmas in LA is a beach day!
wil -
Loved this entry. Christmas is not my fave time of the year. I get mushy, and sad. But I always put on a brave face, and by the time it gets here I realize that I am thankful for so much. Presents help....lmao. We make tons of cookies the night before, and it turns into a great time. Dean Martin singing, Andy sleeping on the couch with his mouth open...you get the picture. Hope yours is wonderful, and sending you good vibrations. :o)
Dwana
http://journals.aol.com/alphamoon65/MoonlightDrive/ -
Y'know, it occurs to me that you do have this down pat. A nod to God because for those of us who choose to believe, He is the Reason for the Season. And even for those who choose not to, they can relate to what Christmas time is supposed to be: Love, Peace, Forgiveness, Redemption, Joy, Laughter. All those things and more. I hope that you and your family experience these things and so much more Tina... God Bless...
Mik -
I love your attitude toward Christmas. For me Christmas is the church service and evrything else is just tinsel. But we each can celebrate in our own way and that's wonderful.
12/15/06 1:45 AM
Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fishe
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