the wild woman within - how deep is she buried?
this is definitely scarey - sharing myself like this...but that's ok, who's going to read it, anyway? At the start, only those I tell about it. Then whoever those people tell, and so on, and so on, and so on...remember that commercial?
there's a topic for you. TV, commercials, commercialism...
how about Christmas and commercialism, we all just lived through that for another year, didn't we?
This year, I discovered that necessity is the mother of a meaningful Christmas. No money equals no commercialism, and a very laid back, enjoyable Christmas spent connecting with family.
It was going to be a Christmas by proxy. No tree, no presents...I was prepared to enjoy it for what it was. I had no expectations, and so was in a perfect frame of mind to notice and enjoy the little things.
Walking in fresh, magical snowfall, all hushed and white and beautiful.
A street light shining on the branches of a snow covered tree.
The crisp, invigorating air kissing my face...
One day I walked to work, worked for 10 hours, then shoveled my walkway clear of about 18 inches of light, fluffy snow. Just me, the shovel and the snow, in the dark. One of my favorite forms of exercise, and meditation. A great way to be in the moment.
I helped Lori put the lights on her tree again this year. It's become a yearly tradition for us. This year her sister was there for the first time. I have been able to help turn what has been a chore for her into a fun event. We had oranges, macaroons, dark chocolate with cranberries and almond, and coffee with Bailey's. Christmas music was playing in the background while Lori and Carol decorated the tree, and I made a 'spray' for the mantlepiece out of bits and pieces I found in their Christmas ornament boxes.
That was my tree decorating by proxy. The following weekend I was at Drew's, and he asked me to wrap some presents for him. Present wrapping by proxy. I was considering volunteering at the Mission to help serve Christmas dinner on Christmas day. Christmas dinner by proxy.
But fate intervened, in the form of Universal Packaging. I won a turkey in the Christmas draw for the third year in a row, and was going to cook it at home, with Kelly and Sheldon. I had accepted the fact that I couldn't afford the expense of driving to Lillooet for Christmas. Plans changed again, however, when I opened my bonus envelope. Five hundred dollars! Suddenly I can afford to go to Lillooet! The next morning Kelly, Sheldon and I hopped in the Little Red Toyota and headed off to a lovely, low key, non commercial Christmas with family.
