Christmas Season Means...

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Christmas season means people have smiles on their faces.  It means the first of rains, the first of snows.  It means stress.  It means trying to figure out ways to give the perfect presents to people we love, without thinking at all about what we would love.

Christmas means you think about what the year has been.  It means reflecting.  It means we snuggle up 'round a fire.  It means hot chocolate, hot coffee, hot cider.

Christmas season means wooly stuff.  It means it's so itchy, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.  And anyway, it's cute... so put up with the itch of that wool, or angora, or cashmere... real or fake.

Christmas season means hustle and bustle.  Stuff moves fast.  We make statements like "I can't believe it's already Christmastime" and "Where did the year go?"

Christmas season means stuff is messy.  There's wrapping paper.... everywhere.  Even if you only have a few gifts to wrap, you wonder why wrapping takes so long.... and why it gets everywhere.  And you struggle to make the present look like it was wrapped by a professional at the mall.  And you will scowl because you can't figure out how the worker at Macy's makes it look so magical... and is able to hide the seams.... and cut in straight lines.... and no matter how hard you try.... it just don't look the same.   Damn.

Christmas season means socks.  It means hoodies.  It means jammies.... at noon....

Christmas season means we remember that it is the "who" and not the "what" that is most important.  Things and treasures.... the hottest items of the season.... they come and go (lest we forget the Troll doll and Beanie Baby rages....) but people.... that's what matters.

My sisters matter.  My brothers matter.  Cousins, uncles, aunts, the besties that should have been sisters and brothers but the good Lord didn't see fit to give your parents that much trouble- These are what matter.  My mom matters.  The extended family that we slightly dread seeing because, invariably, they will say something inappropriate or drink a bit too much of the "egg nog" mixer- they matter too.  This is what Christmas season means.

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