When I look back at the Christmas holidays throughout my life - I see
a progression from childhood excitement, to teenage apathy, to young
adult enthusiasm, to my current midlife contentment. I did not grow up
in a particularly religious home. As such, as a child, Christmas was a
secular, American celebration complete with trees, decorations,
cooking, baking, and an abundance of gifts from Santa.
In
my post-Santa adulthood, the holidays have come to be a time to
reconnect with family I see only occasionally. And, more recently the
holidays have become a time to share food and drink with dear friends, a
time to reach out to friends in far away places, and a time to
remember those no longer among us who made the holidays memorable with
their smiles and their love. And, I have to admit, even today as I
cling to the last days of my 50th year, when I drive by a home that
brightens the night with twinkling lights and decorations, both tacky
and tasteful, I flash back to that excited Christmas morning feeling of
eager anticipation. There is something special about this time of
year, even for those of us who have chosen different paths.
So,
no matter how you choose to celebrate, whether with the family into
which you were born or the family you have created for yourself along
the way, I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas, a wonderful
Winter Solstice, a satiating Saturnalia, a fun-filled Festivus, a
Kwanzaa full of love, Happy Holidays, and a prosperous New Year.
Regardless of your
tradition, make it memorable because in the end, our memories are all
we get to take with us.
Peace and Love
Glenn