So, in case you hadn't noticed, Christmas is over. Anyone who knows me well (or knows me casually on Facebook) knows that I love Christmas and do a monthly countdown. Truth be told, I actually love Christmas Eve even better than Christmas Day. I've unpacked all the psychological reasons for that but I won't go into them here. Anyway, throughout the month of January, on my evening commute home, I was actively counting and mentally giving high 5s to the houses who still had their Christmas lights on. Part of me genuinely loved seeing the lights and their festivity, and admittedly, part of me took comfort that I was still ok that mine were on. The spotlighted inflatable Santa up the street, though making the nightly count, did nothing to bolster my spirit. Little by little, the evening count diminished. But now, even the Santa is deflated and folded over onto himself. The party is indeed, over.
I took the Nativity scene down today- although theologically speaking, that's the one thing that could have stayed up year. The Christmas lights on the outside were turned off for the season the day before the Super Bowl.....much to my chagrin. And I chose to take the tree down during the Super Bowl, thinking it would help take my mind off the fact that the Steelers weren't playing. In retrospect, that was a dumb idea because taking the tree down is the saddest day of the year for me.
While all of the lights, music, decorations and various other "trappings" of Christmas bring an extra measure of lightness to life, I've come to realize it is the transformation in people that happens during holiday time that make me love Christmas so much. Think about it - people are more likely to give you space in traffic to change lanes, they make eye contact and smile in the grocery store, apologize when they realize they're in your way, offer to hold doors, execute random acts of kindness. And now, just about 6 weeks later, so much of that has dissipated if not disappeared altogether. Even the borough is on board during the holidays - offering free parking and feeding your meter.....once the new year is over, however, you'll find that little "love note" just 13 minutes past your quarter running out. Voice of experience here. :( Patience seems to have blinked out just like the Christmas lights and then there's this snow. If all this glorious white stuff had fallen during the week between Christmas and New Year's, we would have been celebrating and posting happy pictures. Today there's been post after post of complaining. And hatred for winter. I mean, I want to be at the beach just as much as the next guy or gal. But it's all a matter of perspective. There's still some incredible beauty in the silent white blanket that descended today. People are just as worthy of respect, a helping hand, or a kind word today as they were sometime in December. There are still moments to treasure and missions to accomplish, whether or not there's a tree in the corner or candles in the window. Oh if only we could all be like the transformed Scrooge, who promises with all sincerity to "keep Christmas in my heart all year." It would certainly help this girl...and make us all just a little happier on a regular basis. Who knows - it might even impact the Valentine's Day naysayers!
