 It’s
my most favorite time of the year.......
Well, actually it’s one of my favorite times of the year. I have other
favorites also. But the winter holiday season is right up there. I’ve always
enjoyed giving gifts, and naturally, getting them. I also really love the
decorations. It is even more fun now that I’m married. Ruth really loves all
of the decorating and shopping for others and the baking and all the other
little things involved.
Our extravaganza began this year about a week before Thanksgiving. We put up our
Christmas tree and Ruth spent the next two nights putting on lights. 22 strings
of 100 lights on an eight foot tree. Needless to say it is quite bright. After
this was done we started with the ornaments. This year we are sticking with just
the glass balls and Winnie The Pooh ornaments. Little by little over the years
we have both accumulated many ornaments, and they are all different. So we
decided to limit what actually goes on the tree, and use the rest else where.
 Ruth
also decided this year to experiment with making her own cards. Not all the ones
we sent were homemade, but many were. She has it down to a system now and is
planning on doing them all next year. This year they were hedgehogs. And I have
to say, the Postal Service kicked ass. We mailed out a bunch on a Sunday, and
they were arriving as far away as England on that Wed.
Ruth is also doing a lot of baking. And I am not exaggerating when I say she
baked almost every night for three weeks. Cookies of all kinds, candy, and
breads. In fact, this year she is also making homemade dog biscuits.
The house has smelled wonderful all month. Plus I have even managed to maintain
my weight so far.....
The rest of the house was decorated in bursts. And it all looks quite festive.
Next up.... the shopping. As usual, we got carried away. I started out on line
at Speigal. I ordered a really nice ring for Ruth, and being a practical husband
who didn’t want to drop $300+ on a ring she didn’t like, I had her look at
the ring in question first. She approved, so “add to shopping cart” was the
mood of the day. I got an email the next day saying it wouldn't be here till the
27th and I was a bit bummed. As luck would have it, it showed up on the fifth
and it became a St. Nick’s present. I was still able to get some surprise out
of it.  Not
to long after this, Ruth would start walking past me at night carrying wrapped
gifts and place them under the tree. It occurred to me that some actual
physical, in a store with real money shopping would be in order. As nice as it
is to order on line and wait for the mail, I love shopping in real stores. And
so does Ruth! Little by little the area under the tree has become a giant pile
of wrapped surprises for each other. Of course we had to leave a small space
open on the blanket for the cats. For some reason they love lying under the tree
when the lights are on. The real fun is always finding enough stuff to fill her
stocking. It is a very large stocking. So far, so good. Our third Christmas
together and it’s full again.
Our time has also been zipping by quite fast. Ruth is up late doing baking or
decorating, we shop, go to a few Xmas parties,
or entertain people here. The only time that is dragging is at work! But, I do
like the daily phone calls to Ruth to update her on the cards we are getting.
For us, the best part of the season has always been sharing it with others. And
now that we are married, I can share the season every day with Ruth. I really
like that. And I love watching her put together cookie plates to give to friends
and others. I love watching her decorate. And she gets a real kick out of me
putting up a little holiday village. It is something we started the first year
we were married. Now each year more buildings and accessories are added. And I
even got a bookstore this year. A gift celebrating six years of sobriety.
 New
Years is coming up also, and this year we decided to just sit home. Some good
food, a stack of movies and the heat cranked up. We invited some people to join
us, but alone or with others, it will be relaxing and fun.
So I know that we are loving the season and enjoying it. I also hope every one
else is too, whatever holidays you celebrate. I think the best way to sum this
all up for me is this, I love seeing other people enjoy the holidays. So if this
little writing exercise made you smile, then I’m glad.
Be happy, be safe, and be kids again.
Jon
|
|
