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There isn't a Santa Claus, Virginia.
There certainly couldn't be one in a world that can be tough, cold and cruel. A place that had a someone so giving, surely that spirit would translate far and wide. A world that would make sure that everyone had enough to eat, a place to sleep and a present under every tree, menorah, or whatever else, could be taken care of. Certainly nothing bad could happen during this season, no hurt, no sorrow, no loneliness.
Sure, it's never a perfect world, Santa would still punish those who did wrong, whether it meant mischievously drawing on the freshly-painted wall or trying to horde weapons of mass destruction, but still, he gives them coal, which, while not fun in it's natural state, could keep you warm, or if you try hard enough, could become a diamond. You've got to work for it, though.
I see the lights out my sliding glass window this year, and they warm me to the season. It's the anticipation that keeps me going, not for presents and material good, but the excitement to be with a special person, someone that I didn't even know last year. Spending time with him will be my biggest gift this year.
Christmas Eve sees me alone at the apartment, tomorrow I'll head for the parent's for lunch, and then off to Dallas. Someone has sent a gift to my house, and of course the postal service gave it over to the apartment office, which closed early. I'll have to wait until after I return to find out what the mystery gift is. You don't want to know how curious I am about that present!
Just an aside, in my love of Christmas music, I have amassed several versions of "Sleigh Ride". 27 to be exact. Among the 200+ Christmas songs I have in iTunes, it's coming up just a few too many times on "shuffle".
Oh, and the title refers to my old retail days when people would ask what was still open when Mervyn's, and later Target, closed for Christmas Eve.
It will be interesting, I'm sure. It's like creating a new tradition rather than being attached to the old ones, the times past with my grandparents and parents. That has devolved to something that is no longer special. No one gets worked up for the holidays, Laura doesn't come home for it, staying with Ed's family in the Metroplex. I'm happy to have something this year to look forward to, and the hope for many, many more Christmases to come.
I look back upon the year and all the people I met, and I wish I could do something special for each and everyone this year. It pains me that I've managed to run through my savings and I can't really do a lot for anyone this year. I'm not mad about it, I used the money and I enjoyed what I did. It wouldn't have been the same year otherwise. I guess I'm just more used to taking time and getting into the whole trying to find the perfect thing for that person. I miss that. Sure, the material thing is nice, but it's being able to take time to think about someone, and the gift of your thoughtfulness that counts. Still, fruitcake is not a thoughtful gift, no matter what you try to say.
Here's to hope, happiness and cheer, with a round of virtual chai-nog for everyone here in LJ land, from Australia to Europe, from Mexico to Canada. May your spirits be filled and your lives enriched, no matter what you celebrate during this season. All I wish now is that Santa Claus would be around to make everyone's Christmas wishes come true.
There certainly couldn't be one in a world that can be tough, cold and cruel. A place that had a someone so giving, surely that spirit would translate far and wide. A world that would make sure that everyone had enough to eat, a place to sleep and a present under every tree, menorah, or whatever else, could be taken care of. Certainly nothing bad could happen during this season, no hurt, no sorrow, no loneliness.
Sure, it's never a perfect world, Santa would still punish those who did wrong, whether it meant mischievously drawing on the freshly-painted wall or trying to horde weapons of mass destruction, but still, he gives them coal, which, while not fun in it's natural state, could keep you warm, or if you try hard enough, could become a diamond. You've got to work for it, though.
I see the lights out my sliding glass window this year, and they warm me to the season. It's the anticipation that keeps me going, not for presents and material good, but the excitement to be with a special person, someone that I didn't even know last year. Spending time with him will be my biggest gift this year.
Christmas Eve sees me alone at the apartment, tomorrow I'll head for the parent's for lunch, and then off to Dallas. Someone has sent a gift to my house, and of course the postal service gave it over to the apartment office, which closed early. I'll have to wait until after I return to find out what the mystery gift is. You don't want to know how curious I am about that present!
Just an aside, in my love of Christmas music, I have amassed several versions of "Sleigh Ride". 27 to be exact. Among the 200+ Christmas songs I have in iTunes, it's coming up just a few too many times on "shuffle".
Oh, and the title refers to my old retail days when people would ask what was still open when Mervyn's, and later Target, closed for Christmas Eve.
It will be interesting, I'm sure. It's like creating a new tradition rather than being attached to the old ones, the times past with my grandparents and parents. That has devolved to something that is no longer special. No one gets worked up for the holidays, Laura doesn't come home for it, staying with Ed's family in the Metroplex. I'm happy to have something this year to look forward to, and the hope for many, many more Christmases to come.
I look back upon the year and all the people I met, and I wish I could do something special for each and everyone this year. It pains me that I've managed to run through my savings and I can't really do a lot for anyone this year. I'm not mad about it, I used the money and I enjoyed what I did. It wouldn't have been the same year otherwise. I guess I'm just more used to taking time and getting into the whole trying to find the perfect thing for that person. I miss that. Sure, the material thing is nice, but it's being able to take time to think about someone, and the gift of your thoughtfulness that counts. Still, fruitcake is not a thoughtful gift, no matter what you try to say.
Here's to hope, happiness and cheer, with a round of virtual chai-nog for everyone here in LJ land, from Australia to Europe, from Mexico to Canada. May your spirits be filled and your lives enriched, no matter what you celebrate during this season. All I wish now is that Santa Claus would be around to make everyone's Christmas wishes come true.
