In my house, there are two months I dread. June: wedding anniversaries and birthdays, at least two a week. I hated standing in 90-degree heat in a tafetta dress for my sister’s wedding, and I hate being reminded of it every year, too. And since I hit thirty this year, my own birthday leads a lot to be desired.
But we’re talking about December. Or at least, that’s where i’m going with this.
This month I have my son’s fourth birthday, my mother’s thirtieth celebration of her 21st birthday, my brother’s birthday, and a plethora of Christmas parties. To the tune of ‘two parties to get to every weekend for the entire month.’ (often across the province from each other) Not to mention getting oldestboy to his bio-dad’s place for the holidays.
I’m a hermit, and pretty free about admitting it. I don’t like to leave my house. So this month is a real trial for me. Not only do I have to leave, I have to get the boys ready to leave. And I have to put on a happy face, even though I’d rather join the boys in their temper tantrum: “I don’t wanna gooooo.”
The really sad part of all of this is that I *love* Christmas. Like I’d listen to Christmas music all year round, I buy Christmas presents in July, have more Christmas decorations than cutlery…I love Christmas. Hubby’s not so big a fan. So I resent the reality of holiday merrymaking interfering with my postcard picture of what the holiday should be. And if I don’t put on that happy face, it’s like admitting he’s right! (speaking of postcard pictures: I’m in Canada, and we have yet to get any snow. It doesn’t even look like Christmas.)
I’m holding onto Christmas morning with the same tenacious grip my kids are going to have on their new toys. We’ll be here, together, warm in our house, drinking hot chocolate laced coffee followed by apple cider, eating muffins for breakfast and turkey for dinner. That soft warm feeling of a cozy holiday will set in, and the memories of the rest of the month will be seen through the tempered glass of memory.
Until then, give me something to hold onto. What’s the best part of getting Out of the house? What makes it worth leaving my comfortable niche and getting Out There? (cuz honestly, without the snow, it’s danged cold!)
December 8th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
My CP lives in Ohio and they got SIX INCHES by the time seh left for work yesterday afternoon.
I’m like you Dayna I’m a real hermit. Most of my friends are writers and other than a small christmas lunch at work all I have to go to is my RWA chapter christmas party this weekend. I’m totally not sweating Christmas and getting here or getting there by this time or that time and if folks don’t like it they can kiss my mistletoe
December 8th, 2006 at 9:35 pm
Since Army Guy is gone I don’t have the usual round of work parties to go to. Thank Gawd, cause those things get so expensive. I’m not a hermit really, but I don’t like to have to go places I can’t take my kids. Kwim?
Ok, maybe I am a hermit ’cause I was just sitting here thinking it’s a good thing we have 3 school parties to go to or I’d have like no adult interaction before Christmas day lol!
CD I get to drive 4 hours. Oh the joy. Nothing like being in the car 4 hours with 3 hyped up kids. I love my parents dearly but is it to much to ask for them to come to us just once lol??
Wow, didn’t answer your question huh? Lol
December 11th, 2006 at 7:02 pm
Mine is October. My kids’ birthdays are all three smack in a row. And by the time all that is over and I’ve rested up, here comes Thx and then Christmas.
I’m looking forward to them going back to school in the New Year and then letting my Holiday Cheer (of which I have precious little) hibernate until Easter.