Holly and Jolly

So I'm not normally a super-clichéd person, nor am I usually the chairperson of the cheese-fest of the year. Yet, I have a certain belief about Christmas (besides my religous beliefs, which still count no matter how behind on my church-going I may be). There are reasons that this season doesn't stress me out, upset me, or harrass me until I find myself repeating those oft non-good-tidings-bearing words "I just can't wait until Christmas is over".

It's because I believe that Christmas is really about love. And family. And friends. I love taking the time to think about each of my friends and family members and what I can do for them this year. What gift will make their day. What will make them laugh or excite them. Even if its a teenage vampire book wrapped in a movie poster. Something a little different. But its not just about the gifts (or really at all about the gifts).

I try to take the time to do special seasonal things with as many of my friends and family as possible. For example, I made a special shopping day with my sister-in-law (no boys allowed) where not much shopping got done by it gave us a time to make us feel closer. Not that big of a deal, but it worked. We've talked on the phone almost every three days since then. Or my nephew. Spending time with him is not hard in the first place, but I make sure that our Christmas outings are different than any of our other outings throughout the year. This year we went and saw the lights at the zoo and then made a gingerbread house (this is now our tradition, apparently I'm one of a few people in our family who doesn't mind making a huge mess). This is nothing unique or original but its something that I get to make ours.

Christmas is also about the weather. And the music. There is just something about driving home in the dark with just the right Christmas carol playing (my fave: O Come All Ye Faithful) when you know its cold outside. You see all the other cars around you, racing to where they need to be so urgently. And in that moment, all I can be is happy. I smile, because its perfect. Its right where I'm supposed to be. And if you want them to be (Warning: rose-colored glasses alert), red tail-lights are really Christmas decorations.

My family gets frustrated with me because of my endless supply of patience. I think it has something to do with hating those who have something you are unable to figure out. But mine only grow around this time of year. 45-minute lines to return a boardgame, okay sure. Grandma Pearl in line in front of me wants to hand write a check and then wants to count out her coin jar to pay for the rest, I'm there. Parking in the last possible space to get into the zoo to look at the Christmas lights, puhlease, sign me up. Something about this season makes me feel like everyone's in it together. I mean, yes, I understand someone could possibly shiv me over the last Bratz game for the Wii, but as long as they were singing the 12 days of Christmas I could probably get over it.

I realize that I sound like a Nicholas Sparks best-seller (way too cheesy), but there is something about Christmas (the baking, the shopping, the church plays, the music, the family, the friends) that just makes it possible for me to be happy. I make the time to be.

P.S. I also like going shopping the day after Thanksgiving (not to actually buy anything though) but just to watch. I just like being around this crazy kick-off to the commercialized part of the holiday. Plus, I feel like if I'm out there being cheery it will rub off. Also, I had an experience my first year that keeps me coming back. This is experience is as follows: I was out and about, never before seeing such madness, and I see an elderly lady in a wheelchair. She was trying to get two Dora the Explorer dolls for her grandkids, but the crazy crowd of moms around the display wouldn't let her get in with her wheelchair. She was just sitting there looking at the pile which was dwindling down quickly. Now for those who have met me know that I have few weaknesses (or a lot, whatev) but one of those would be the supposed helplessness of elderly people. So I squeeze myself in and grab a few of the dolls to hand out to those standing patiently outside the crazy circle and give two to this older lady. And she smiled. Thats it. All I needed. This has now become my own version of Robin Hood, stealing from the over-enthused and giving to the patient.

So take the time this year. Be happy. Be patient. Help out the elderly. Be nice to people you see in store (especially those checking you out). Go to church. See a Christmas play. Go ice-skating. Sing a Christmas Carol. Spin your dreidle. Hug someone. Kiss your grandmother. Call your friends.

Merry Christmas

So that's why....

So. I've wrestled with this awhile. Starting a blog...should I? Shouldn't I?

I finally settled on yes. At least it's writing of some kind. As an English major who no longer uses her skills, this is a step up. A refresher course if you will. Maybe it will push me in a constructive creative direction.

A few things about me first:

1. I picked the second most useless major in the world (only behind Philosophy): English. And then I went and made it even more laugh-out-loud funny by emphazing in "Creative Writing:Poetry". Now plenty of people do well with this as their degree. I just have two small caveats that make this difficult. I refuse to teach and I refuse to go to grad school to get a Master's in English. Well maybe I don't refuse to do the second, I just shy away from that. To go to grad school for English & Creative Writing you have to be good, but good in the "Oh Wow Look at The Next Billy Collins or Slyvia Plath (minus the suicide, of course)" way. I never have felt that I was on that par (this was expounded on by a certain professor in college) nor have I ever been good at "risking it". The closest I ever came to risking it was when another college professor convinced me to switch my major to English because I could have a future....and down the rabbit hole I went. However, this whole switching of majors thing was not too difficult after my journalism advisor/professor informed me that I had a knack at and future in writing obituaries (I put "life" back into the obituaries....yeah, I know....). I found that a little disturbing and sad. Anyways, this section is getting almost pitiful. Not looking for pity, I just feel like these facts construct a lot of what there is to know about the future of this blog.

2. If you're still with me, its important to know that I am in most cases (and contrary to the preceeding paragraph) a pretty happy person. Sometimes too happy (I tend to ignore those inconvient things that may make me unhappy). I also find it hard to hold a grudge. So while I may rant one day about things I find unpleasant, know that the next post will probably have no bearing on that same topic. Besides maybe my job (this tends to be a recurring theme). Also, this blog may never look too deep inside who I am. Again, oblivious when I choose to be. I play my hand pretty close to my chest (i.e. not good at the whole "risking it if I may look like an idiot" thing).

3. My goal is never to be "significant". I like to be funny and entertaining. Hopefully this is what I will do.

4. I never proofread so everything you will see is pretty much my cognitive though process in text form. I also do not spell amazingly. I may also make up words.

5. I love my friends and family fiercely and loyally. Expect them to form the cast of these narratives.

6. These entries may be rants, they may be adventures, they may read like magazine articles, or they may be selections from my creative writing portfolio (the sad state that it exists in). I may post a diatribe about a single word I like. Or hate. One never knows. Its really whatever shiny object catches my attention.

7. I love words, music, entertainment, etc. Expect to see some of these things pop up. I do crossword puzzles for fun.

8. I'm trying to figure out a fun way to end these posts. A signature if you will. Expect there to be ugly, cliche', unhappy-sounding versions before a good one.

I think thats it for now. I'm not that complex and hopefully this place will not be either.

...flying the cage