About Christmas

Once upon a time, there was a girl who didn't particularly like Christmas. Every year she thought she would like it, she remembered what it was like to smell cookies and listen to Christmas music and buy presents, and then something would happen. The something was different every year - the headache of trying to find just the right presents, the way people tend to argue at family parties, or the painfully empty chairs that reminded her of the people she'd lost - but inevitably she would turn into a grouch between December 1st and 25th each year. She may even have been called "the grinch" by a few disgruntled friends and sisters.

And then one year... it just didn't happen. She couldn't explain why, because all of the usual things happened: shopping was a nightmare, politics and religion were visited in the same conversation, the best (or worst) family gossip was shared and picked over, and the chairs that should have been filled by the most loving and caring people were conspicuously empty. On top of all of this, the sickly-sweet bubblegum joy of Christmas radio was practically inescapable no matter where she turned. It should have put her off and she knew it, in fact she was waiting for it... only to discover that it didn't.

It wasn't a Christmas miracle. There wasn't any magic, no one fell in love, and she didn't start believing in Santa Claus again, but for the first time in a long time she was able to be with people and share the gift of togetherness instead of focusing on the headaches and stress and expectations.

She wasn't sure what made it so good. Maybe it was maturity. Maybe the desperate wishing for something to change had an effect on her subconscious. Maybe she was feeling sappy and simply didn't notice a lot of the things that should have sent her over the edge. Whatever it was, after five or six years of verifiable grinchiness, she was able to be especially grateful for the family and friends who helped her decorate, played the sickly-sweet bubblegum-joy songs, and chose to spend time with her before and during the holidays. They make life beautiful and make her feel worthwhile, and she can never thank them enough.

And she wanted me to tell you all that. Merry Christmas.