Debi and Terry Mealey - Christmas 1952 - Time. It goes so fast -- except for when it doesn't. For those of you who grew up with the tradition of Santa Claus, you know what I mean. Actually, any childhood tradition that included waiting for a day to open gifts is the same. Once Thanksgiving was over (in the day when Christmas decorations went up appropriately AFTER Thanksgiving) the days began to go by slooooowly.
The Christmas list was written, a letter to Santa mailed, the visit to
Meier & Frank Toys where Santa took your order as a secondary backup, and a celebrational whooping occurred when your beloved item was showcased during cartoon commercials; that was the routine. And it lasted so long, unless you were the parent responsible for making Christmas happen.
As an adult, when the Fall school bell rings, I start my Chrismas moaning. The first flicker of a falling leaf means only one thing. AACCKK, Christmas will be here momentarily! To the stores that put up Christmas decorations right after Easter, a POX on your Christmas goose!!!
For the little child who anticipates the day with a light in his/her eyes, the wait is excruciating. To the adults, the glow of that anticipation long faded with the inherent responsibilities of the season.
Time becomes as precious as the true meaning of the season. Time is organized, negotiated with, and spent in making a series of lists, and appointments. Time becomes an enemy and patience is more about "losing it" in long lines at the stores, the lack of RSVP's for dinner, and the likes of computer crashes during online shopping. Time is now about how we can shove the "responsibilities" of Christmas into the few spare hours we have. There is no time to casually shop for those we love. The best shopping trips I ever had were the one-day Christmas shopping days where I went to the store with my list of people and no clue as to what to get them. Just there names and an open mind and a small budget. Now it's matter of two-day free shipping, click, charge and send. Ho-hum. Takes so little time.
Maybe it is time to rethink the way we wait in anticipation for our celebration. Maybe we should plan our time to include and relive the most memorable memories of Christmas.
For me, it is time to put away the "things" of the season and exchange them for the time of the season. The time to reflect on the past, to enjoy the present, and anticipate the joy of the day. Take time to be present in the moment. Christmas-"time" is here. Do not fear.
As an adult, when the Fall school bell rings, I start my Chrismas moaning. The first flicker of a falling leaf means only one thing. AACCKK, Christmas will be here momentarily! To the stores that put up Christmas decorations right after Easter, a POX on your Christmas goose!!!
For the little child who anticipates the day with a light in his/her eyes, the wait is excruciating. To the adults, the glow of that anticipation long faded with the inherent responsibilities of the season.
Time becomes as precious as the true meaning of the season. Time is organized, negotiated with, and spent in making a series of lists, and appointments. Time becomes an enemy and patience is more about "losing it" in long lines at the stores, the lack of RSVP's for dinner, and the likes of computer crashes during online shopping. Time is now about how we can shove the "responsibilities" of Christmas into the few spare hours we have. There is no time to casually shop for those we love. The best shopping trips I ever had were the one-day Christmas shopping days where I went to the store with my list of people and no clue as to what to get them. Just there names and an open mind and a small budget. Now it's matter of two-day free shipping, click, charge and send. Ho-hum. Takes so little time.
Maybe it is time to rethink the way we wait in anticipation for our celebration. Maybe we should plan our time to include and relive the most memorable memories of Christmas.
For me, it is time to put away the "things" of the season and exchange them for the time of the season. The time to reflect on the past, to enjoy the present, and anticipate the joy of the day. Take time to be present in the moment. Christmas-"time" is here. Do not fear.
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