MERRY TUESDAY TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD WEEK
BY JENNIFER RAWLINGS
I arrived in New York City early this morning. I took the red-eye from Los Angeles. The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon as my plane landed at JFK. I tightened the belt on my purple coat as I walked to the taxi line. The crisp December air was intoxicating, urine mixed with the smell of motor oil; car horns and profanity made beautiful music along side the chirping birds.
As the cab driver wove through the streets of Manhattan, like a NASCAR driver, reaching terrifying speeds we made small talk. “Where are you from?”, “How long are you in New York for?”
And then the question that makes me uncomfortable, even from a total stranger: “Are you ready for Christmas?”
“ NO, I am not ready for Christmas.” I don’t have a tree up yet, I haven’t bought any gifts, I don’t have the stockings hung, I haven’t mailed any Christmas cards, my Christmas dishes are still in the attic, no nativity scene by the fireplace, there are still pumpkins on the front porch instead of poinsettias, and my Johnny Cash Christmas music hasn’t been played in a year.
My husband is doing better on the Christmas front than I am. There are a few anorexic white lights hanging in the trees in front of our house; but that’s only because I withheld (cooking dinner) until the lights were hung.
Now don’t get me wrong. I am no Edith Scrooge. I LOVE CHRISTMAS: the trees, the lights, the smells. I even like Christmas shopping. I’m just not ready to celebrate Christmas yet. Time is flying too fast; I want to take a deep breath, hold it and enjoy the moment that I am living right now.
When you are kid you can’t wait for Christmas to come. It seems like an eternity waiting to rip open the packages that are sitting under the tree that you have been looking at and shaking for clues. Now that I am a mom, I want to savor every second of life. I want to celebrate every day I have on this earth whether it be December 8th or August 17th or a rainy Sunday. Every day is a reason to celebrate. Sure it’s not practical to hang shadows all over your house to decorate for ground hog day or recover your furniture in plaid for National Tartan Day (a real holiday: April 6) but we can slow down and recognize that every day is a gift.
Merry Tuesday and happy week!
Recent Posts By Jennifer Rawlings
- THE FAMILY DINNER CIRCUS - August 31st, 2010
- MY HANDS MAKE A GREAT TOTE BAG - August 24th, 2010
- SCARY BIG BOOB FOOD, SCARY FOOD CHAIN - August 17th, 2010
- I AM HAPPY WITH MY SMALL HOUSE.....REALLY!!! - August 10th, 2010
- THE PAIN OF CHANGE - August 3rd, 2010
Tags: Christmas, motherhood
