I think I'm having an Ebenezar Scrooge moment. Seriously, folks.
I dislike this time of year. I dislike the crowds, the hustle, the spend-wacky mobs, the insistence on getting the most expensive (and not necessarily the most thoughtful) gifts, the
friggin Christmas music 24-7 for a month straight!!
Yeah, I dislike this time of year. And this one has started out worse than usual. In several ways I won't explore here (c'mon, this is a happy blog, ne? *grin*), this Christmas season just took the heart out of me. I was TIRED. I didn't want to do any of it anymore. I've said quite candidly that if I had the money to do it, I'd take off the whole friggin month and lock myself into seclusion, turn off the TV and the beloved radio (because even my favorite jaded rock station can't avoid Christmas music on commercials, dammit), and just write/read/doodle/bake away the entire month of December.
However, a funny thing happened. The more I tried to withdraw from the world this year, the less able to do so I became.
When people heard that my own family Christmas had been all but cancelled, they became outraged on my behalf.
My beloved sister set up a family Christmas with my brother and his family so we'd still have a family get-together. Scores of friends and work mates invited me to their family Christmas things, though I'm clearly not family. I received good tidings of great joy from all over the world. Friends I've never met (and may never meet, sadly enough) sent both presents and good cheer. *is astonished* Other friends encouraged me to forget family woes and come do Christmas with them in other states...in other
countries. They offered of their homes and their time and their good cheer to make me --
me! -- feel better, feel wanted and loved.
And, perhaps best and most gut-wrenching of all...a good friend here in town...gave me --
gave me, mind you -- tickets to the Christmas Day Chiefs game at Arrowhead!
*passes out*
*wakes up and does a little dance*
I'm spending Christmas in the most amazing place in the world, in my humble opinion! Tail-gating on Christmas. Live, in-person football on Christmas. A sea of whooping, roaring red on Christmas. Playing against the Oakland Faders on Christmas Day
and I'm gonna be there!
And all thanks to a friend who has always been one of the most giving souls I've ever encountered. Bless your heart, Karla. If I wish anyone a Happy Holidays this year, it's you. But I know you're already having a better holiday than I could ever wish you. *wink* She knows what I'm talking about, folks. *grin*
No, I'm not a changed person. I won't run out into the streets shrieking "Merry Christmas! And God bless us, every one!" -- though I
do wish good blessings on those wonderful souls who wouldn't let me slip away from the world for a month. I still think this is the most commercial, most soul-sucking holiday ever conceived.
However, mine just got that much better, and I think...I may actually have to put up my tree this year. The day before Christmas, of course. And take it down again as soon as I get home from the Chiefs game. *smirk* And sober up, of course. *laughs*
And I only consider putting it up because the ornaments are red and the trimming is gold and the tiny gold-wire angel I prop up on top seems to be something of a good luck charm when the Chiefs have a December slump....
Yes. I have a Chiefs tree. *laughs*
And thanks, guys. Thanks to you all. Maybe I won't try to slink away so hard next year, ne?