Holiday spirit didn’t necessarily abound in me this year. My Christmas tree was half put together, I wrote one card for grandma and I can count the presents I bought in one hand. I’m not exactly sure why it’s been this way for the past couple of years. Somehow the holidays lost their spark and even though I still believe in magic… Santa fell out of that equation.
But the family get together still carried on albeit not without stress. Something was in the air when I showed up and my family was upset about something or other. It’s a whole lot of work to host dinner for at least 20 hungry tummies so I’m not one to throw stones. It just wasn’t really a warm a fuzzy welcome if you know what I mean. But eventually it all went well and way too many presents were opened, make-believe Santa stopped by to greet the children, and all the pastries and wine were consumed.
The best part was that at the end of the night everyone was upset again because one bunch of folks decided to pack up 90% of the left over food for themselves without any regard for anyone else. Here’s the kicker… as long as I’ve been part of this family, they have ALWAYS done it and the rest of my family has ALWAYS complained about and mostly just laughed and dismissed it as “that’s just they way some people are.” I guess this year they went a bit overboard and it was no longer funny or amusing. It was rather sad and desperate looking to be honest. My cousin’s wife attempted to slip out unnoticed with a giant tray full of goodies and shrugged in surprise when she saw me watching her in complete awe. I thought it was rather hilarious, but that’s just me because I didn’t spend all day cooking and decorating. But again, if it upsets you… tell them! Tell them that closing your eyes and soulfully praying before meals doesn’t absolve you from common courtesy. Tell them that the hosting party has approximately 10 nephews and nieces who are probably coming over the next day and wouldn’t it be nice to have food on the table… being that they hosted Christmas and all…?
But no… let’s all keep it under wraps in order to avoid trouble and keep up appearances. So then live with it and stop complaining.
I watched the kids open around ten presents each only to whine and complain after that it wasn’t enough or that they didn’t get exactly what they wanted. I know we want to give our children the best we possibly can, but is this good for them? They’re good kids too…actually, very good kids that I absolutely adore. But I saw first hand how greed and materialism turns even the most wonderful child into a concentrated mini-body of jealousy and gluttony. Wouldn’t it be great to teach our children to just be less human… hhhmmm…
I had a girlfriend once who used to make her kids pick one present of the bundle they received, re-wrap it, and go to the local shelter and give it away to a less fortunate family. It wasn’t an easy task, but it certainly inculcated some great values. I’m pretty sure if I ever have children I will do the same. 
And now it’s time for New Years! I have absolutely no idea what I’m going to do which means I’ll probably spend it sitting on a couch watching a giant ball drop on television. I wish they understood how much fun life really is and that you don’t need a giant buffet of gourmet food to have a wonderful time. Memo to my family: I propose that one year we give up buying Christmas presents and fancy meals, and use that money to spend NYE on a cruise in the middle of nowhere drinking cheap champagne and dancing the night away.
That’ll be the day…
... but that's my plan from now on. If my family wants to join me... great! If not... great! The only way to prevent vanilla holidays is to bring a little Cindy-sparkle into the mix and that usually means doing the complete opposite of what everyone thinks I should do. I've managed to do so in every other aspect, but somehow for the holidays I get suckered into that superficial complacency that's slightly depressing and ever so booooooooring.
So I guess the holidays have become monotonous and rather stale. Love, peace, and harmony don’t quite abound and the Utopian gathering I picture always falls short… barely makes it really (it feels fake and forced... does that make sense?) Yet I’m thankful for the amazing meal and time we shared together. I’m thankful for having a great, big family here and back in Chile. I’m thankful for our health, our successes, and well-deserved failures. And Maybe I’m just expecting too much or maybe I expect much less. Either way, I’m hoping to recapture the goodness of the season somehow… I’m hoping to bake cookies again and wrap them in pretty packages and great big bows for people just because. I’m hoping to send everyone personalized holiday music CDs with glittery holiday greetings, and maybe just maybe one day I’m hoping to sit back, look around, and truly feel the season’s blessings in my heart.
Well damn girl, that's not good. I know how much you dislike the taste of vanilla. :)
It seems to have been an exceptionally stressful time for many this Christmas. Low-key and uneventful, or eventful for the wrong reasons in some cases. Still I have no complaints, and with the exception of Sandy being sick it's been an enjoyable time together.
And yeah, what's with families huh? This year beginning in the summer I got the standard guilt-trip from my mom about how nobody calls her (which is bullshit), how we're not that close a family anymore (we're actually growing closer with my brother's recent engagement), and how since all her kids have their own lives and Christmas doesn't mean anything to us she's going to Florida with her husband for the winter.
Which they did. Despite Sandy and I, back in the summer, telling her we're inviting them both to our home for Christmas. Nope, might as well not even have mentioned it. I believe this happened last year as well.
So if you see a sixty-nine year old woman in South Beach wearing stretchy pants and complaining about her family, number one that's my mom and number two she's lost 'cause her ass is supposed to be in Orlando.
Ah, family love eh? :)
So Plan B. Since we all love you and you love us, if we can't plan to all be together next Christmas (which would be f$@!&%* awesome), here's what I propose. We all put our names in for a Secret Santa draw and spread some of that love around to each other. It wouldn't have to be so secret, actually better if names were included.
I'd be happy to co-ordinate, or it could be a joint venture. Whaddya think?
Oh wait, I forgot to mention (like I didn't already talk your ear off!). I just learned a new word from you. Inculcated. How kewl is that?
Wait'll I bust it to all ma homies in da crib yo.
Word.