My Christmas Card

Charlie Brown asks in frustration  Does anyone know what Christmas is all about?

Linus takes the spotlight and says I can tell you: 

 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And that is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown.”

Peace to you---and may the love you find keep you safe throughout the year.

Making a List

I had navigated through each department---purchasing things for the various people who still needed gifts.

I had my map and my black card in hand.

My journey proceeded without interruption.

And as I was making my last purchase in the men’s department I found myself next to a woman a few years older than I apparently speaking to her daughter on her cellular phone. I could not help but hear her conversation: Hi.  I am in Lord and Taylor right now. I got Robbie that jacket he wanted and so he is done. And you, Chris, the baby, and Grandma and Grandpa are done too. I also picked up that make-up thing for your stupid sister-in-law even though I did not want to..... I have one more thing to do here, and then I am heading over to "Banana"  and then I should be done with shopping for the day.

And although I did not know this woman, I felt compelled to invite myself into her world. And so I smiled as she updated her gift list and made the universal hand signal for check check check.

The woman chuckled.

Because at Christmastime it is all about the list. We think not about the pleasure of the task, but rather only about getting it done.

We just want to check things off and move on.

It’s about accomplishment.

We never factor in who is naughty or nice.

We purchase and give things anyway.

Which makes us all a leg up on Santa Claus and his elves.

Preempted TV

For her it was just an ordinary day like all others as she came home from Homestead Primary School.

 But it was not.

As she sat on the couch and turned the television on, each channel featured the same special news report.

And so, in frustration over her preempted viewing options, the six year old little girl asked her mother why this was so.

To which her mother gently said There was a very bad explosion today on the space shuttle. Everyone, including the astronauts and an elementary school teacher, died in the crash. It’s a terrible sad thing.

And so the little girl thought about it for a few sorrowful seconds and then earnestly replied I know it’s sad Mommy but what are little kids like me supposed to do?

Which leads to this: My discovering as I shuffled down the steps and turned on my television set this past Friday morning that Nelson Mandela was still dead.

A full 24 hours later and it was still the only reported news.

And while I accept that Mandela was a great leader and represented an exemplary life path, I must admit in all honesty that  I was over his death in less than 10 minutes.

In fact it was probably less than 2.

I really wanted to watch and hear about something else.

I really wanted to watch and hear about something that impacted me—like the weather.

And all I could think was Yes, Mandela’s death is sad, but what are 53 year old white suburban housewives like me supposed to do in the meantime?

'Tis the Season

As any accountant or spouse of an accountant would attest, the months of January through April 15^th are labor intensive. In addition to the normal day to day work, preparing tax returns is a full-on job onto itself. As a result, time sensitive tasks take priority. Everyday tasks are abbreviated or put off until the crunch is over.

It is a necessary evil as there are only so many hours in a day.

It is a grueling time.

And it occurred to me, for all woman—no matter what daytime profession she chooses, the holiday season is our tax season.

Christmas is a job onto itself.

Which is why yesterday I spent two hours on Amazon, Overstock, and Common Goods. I then drove and made purchases at two different Home Goods, Pier 1, T.J Maxx and A.J. Moore. I then went home, did some more decorating, methodically organized what I had bought, and revised my list. Later in the evening I consulted with my “client” Samantha about lamps and paint chips and blinds.

I was quite productive--but I also blew dry but did not flatten my hair.  I only made one of the two beds. I did 3 loads of laundry which remain unfolded on the folding table. I prepared dinner but the only vegetable was a salad—the entrée was “homemade” pizza utilizing a Pillsbury crust.

I also never wrote my blog until ten minutes ago—which is why there are likely to be overlooked grammatical, syntax and spelling errors.

Because something has to give—time sensitive matters take priority.

And it ‘tis the season—and God knows it is so very taxing.