Christmas

“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” – Andy Rooney


So, the big day is nearly upon us and I say if it’s not done for Christmas by now, let it go. I will not, however, be following my own advice. I still have presents to wrap, a menu to plan and food to shop for – not to mention a rather lengthy list of last minute details to accomplish. But, that’s okay. A recent decision not to decorate the tree with anything but lights and shiny garland this year has freed up a bunch of time…

I like the cycle of Christmas, even though there is a predictable low point a few weeks in, where the spirit eludes me for awhile. I’m not alone in this; I’ve noticed it all over town. The happy excitement shopping generated right after Thanksgiving has been replaced with a sort of holiday slog, as people drag their kids and relatives up and down the store aisles, hoping to find something for that impossible person who is difficult to buy for.


Kids melt down and throw fits on the not-so-clean-anymore store floors. The elderly move especially slowly. Moms, daughters and sisters begin to bicker; husbands and dads turn a strange yellowish color under the fluorescent store lights – similar to the pallor a flu casts. Everyone looks tired, feels broke and becomes a little pinched generosity-wise. And, then, the fun returns.


I like sitting by the fire, wrapping presents and watching Christmas shows for the umpteenth time. I like listening to the cheesy music playing everywhere. And, I’m a big fan of holiday decorations – all kinds - the classy displays, the tacky displays, the big blow-ups and the bright lights. The brighter the better, I say. Christmas is the one time of the year where gaudy is not only tolerated it is glorious – at least in my mind.


I like the way complete strangers say, “Merry Christmas!” to each other. I enjoy sending and receiving holiday cards. I like looking at the pictures, opening the pretty envelopes and reading the hand-written notes. And, those holiday letters – priceless! I have one relative who generates the worst poem imaginable every year and somehow manages to surpass herself in terrible-ness year after year. It’s amazing! Mr. Clark and I look forward to the arrival of her card just so we can read it aloud to each other, over and over again. Holiday hoaky-ness – you gotta’ love it!

This year, in an act of holiday hoaky or “it’s the thought that counts,” we sent a poinsettia to Mr. Clark’s dad and his wife. They live in California; we never see or hear from them; it’s the first gift we’ve given them in years. I almost didn’t send them anything again this year, but it’s been a good year and I thought, what the heck? No reason to be a Scrooge every year.


As soon as that poinsettia arrived, Mr. Clark’s dad got on the phone and called us, sounding so pleased and happy Mr. Clark almost didn’t recognize his voice. The elder Mr. Clark described the color of the plant and every detail of the container. He told us how nice the delivery person had been and went on and on about how perfect that plant was for this certain spot in their living room. Now this, coming from a wealthy curmudgeon whose wife used to be an interior decorator, was really quite something.


Mr. Clark and his dad had a long conversation and, by the time they hung up, had caught up and actually sounded close again - all that over an FTD delivery. It wasn’t, of course, about the poinsettia; it was, in this case, indeed, the thought that had counted. Apparently, being remembered by us at Christmas meant more to Mr. Clark’s dad and his wife than any of us would have ever guessed.


Bob Hope said, “When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.” And, I have found that to be true. As much as I enjoy agonizing over the gifts, the decorations and the details, it’s the sound of my family, all laughing together under one roof again, that I remember the most fondly and look forward to each year.


Merry Christmas to you and yours, and may God bless us everyone in the New Year!