Column: Something About Nothing

I missed Black Friday. I missed Cyber Monday and all the rest of the frenetic buying that occurred on those days. I didn’t stand in lines. I didn’t get trampled in the rush of the crowds. I didn’t yell at any sales people and I wasn’t exhausted and angry because I missed out on the one-day-only deals.

My Christmas cards are not written and mailed. Possibly they might get out by Easter. Maybe I should make generic holiday cards so I don’t have a Christmas deadline.

My kitchen is not brimming with baking items. I don’t even know if I have any flour in the house.

The only candy in my house is the Hershey bars sitting on my cupboard that I indulge in once in a while.

Perhaps by the time you read this column I might have managed to get a few Christmas decorations out of my dungeon of a basement. My family room might not see the five trees this year.

I am not bah humbug. I am enjoying the holiday season but without the stressful feeling that I have to have everything a certain way to enjoy Christmas.

My simple shopping is done. Gifts were bought locally in my hometown along with a few Internet purchases that were actually 60 percent off by the time I ordered them (after the cyber days). Of course they could be dud gifts and that is the reason they were still in stock.

Christmas music plays in my office each day. I have enjoyed the concerts at my church and I am anticipating Christmas with my family. It happens that our family Christmas isn’t at my home this year so I can take the time to contemplate the reason for the season and relax.

My mother as she got older enjoyed her tiny tree and her television Christmas programs. I would always chide her that I didn’t understand why she didn’t decorate for Christmas. Now I do. I have always adorned my house from top to bottom for Christmas. Lights would twinkle, stuffed animals would sing and then the season would be over and it was a chore to put everything away. I enjoyed the dazzle but not the work afterward.

I still enjoy the dazzle but this year I am enjoying the time I have to experience the music and the friendship of Christmas. My gift this Christmas is the fact that I have a home, a job, a family and food on the table. So many people do not. My Christmas this year is not about the decorations or the way my home looks; it is about the reason for the season.

I like David Grayson’s quote about Christmas: “I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays — let them overtake me unexpectedly — waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: “Why, this is Christmas Day!”

I wish you, my readers, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I wish for the holidays to overtake you unexpectedly and bring you joy and love and peace. Thank you for bringing me inspiration and joy. The love we get from others helps us to keep Christmas in our hearts every single day of the year.

I leave you with the words from one of my favorite Muppet Christmas carols, “Bless Us All.” Take the time to listen to these lovable Muppets this Christmas. Put the child and a song in your heart with these words from the Muppets:

Let us always love each other

Lead us to the light

Let us hear the voice of reason, singing in the night

Let us run from anger and catch us when we fall

Teach us in our dreams and please, yes please

Bless us one and all.

 

Wells resident Julie Seedorf’s column appears every Monday. Send email to her at thecolumn@bevcomm.net.