How I handle Christmas
It’s Christmas time, and there’s no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and banish shade
And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world…
This stanza is from my preferred carol of the season. No snowmen, or sleighs, or rooftops are involved. Rather, a wish for a better society. Yes, we need it.
This was another family day that involved hours of oven maintenance. Two kitchens, and a small army of stuffers and peelers. I got off easily, with only a temperature shift to show I was part of the team. In mid-afternoon, the dog and I found an open gas bar, and then we headed “up and down” the hill to park and party. Me; the dog had to stand watch (sic) in the car, with me showing up from time to time to commiserate and scratch. Our usual roles.
The children had risen from their beds, long before my arrival. Traces of wrapping paper and articles dedicated to the cult of Frozen were in perfect harmony with the resident demographic.
As I watched too many videos with one refrain, “Let It Go”, I did just that. If you join them, they will accept you into their pack for short periods. I don’t have the manual dexterity or experience to change costumes on tiny figurines from the Disney cast , but my fail didn’t seem to register. Perhaps tiny people know that adults are born klutzes.
No matter. Our long self-serve meal was ready. After days of chocolate and fast food, it was reassuring/comforting to hoe into a platter of mashed with gravy. And the dishes were not my duty.
After several hours of loud singing from the next table, I finally withdrew. The dog needed my companionship. Both dogs, actually. And so I returned t9 the apartment and started planning for eventual retail research tomorrow.
