Merry Christmas!

The Day has arrived again! How has your season been? Filled with activity? Stressful? Hopefully not.  

I remember a friend once told me that when the 25th finally came around it always seemed anticlimactic.  Some years it has felt that way.  The anticipation builds as you attend parties, send off cards, and wrap gifts.  Listen to Perry Como.  Perhaps watch the Charlie Brown Christmas special again.  The day comes and before you realize, it's sundown.  Your receptacles are filled with torn gift wrap.  My heart always sinks.

If you read entries here from years' past you'll see I reconciled the post holiday blues, realizing that Christmas is not restricted to a twenty-four hour day, or even a month (longer these days).   Yes, but I still struggle with that concept.  The whole notion of Christmas been packaged so aggressively (ahem, those Hallmark films don't help) that our own lives often fall short.   

For many, the season is something to get through rather than be enjoyed.  Often because of memories, good or bad.  Those wonderful, often melancholy Christmas classic tunes can be two edged swords as they trigger imagery.   Some folks recall difficult, uncomfortable times with their families.  Others recall just the opposite, but find many or all of those who made their season bright years before have passed on.  The older you get, the more memories are likely to haunt you.  Especially if you're alone, maybe trying in vain to recreate yesteryear warmth.  

If that's you, I hope you find some peace today.  Something for which to be grateful, whether you celebrate Christ's birth or not.  Whether you resent the whole big garrish commercial package.  Santa Claus and the like.  

For the handful who still read this blog, I wish you a day of joy.  Merry Christmas.