Simple Holidays

Holidays are nice. I like holidays. I get a break from work and I get to do something different. But I would like a holiday dedicated to nothing at all. I would like a holiday that doesn't involve work. Spring Break is nice. We often cram too much into Spring Break and end up not rested. But it doesn't require the buying of presents, preparing of special foods, decorating anything, or in any way thinking of anyone else. So many other holidays involve feasts, family gatherings, special preparations, parades, and even gifts. I think Christmas is the worst. Trees, decorations, lights, parades, feasts, gift giving, and huge family gatherings. Why Christmas Trees? Why not just a simple manger scene? Why all the lights and reindeer and Santas? (Maybe we could keep a few lights) We could have a special meal with just a few simple church services. No pressure to get the perfect item or have the perfect decorations or set the perfect table. Just a holiday would be nice.

Sometimes life feels like juggling. I actually know how to juggle three objects. But I cannot juggle more than three. I imagine a juggler with 7 objects in the air going round and round. A partner comes up and they begin throwing some of the objects back and forth and the number of objects increases to maybe 10. Each object represents some responsibility in life like work, friends, bills, yard, ...etc. The juggler started out at some point with only two objects, then increased to three. The juggler then practiced and learned how to add more and more objects. But at some point he will reach a maximum number of objects. As the partner steps out he will not be able to keep all ten objects in the air alone. some of the objects will fall to the floor. Alone that juggler can only keep so many things in the air. And even the seven objects he originally had, one will occasionally fall to the floor. Sometimes there are just too many things to keep in the air. Only so many responsibilities one person can keep going.

The Christmas season is definitely here. Santa arrives in town this evening. He will greet the little kiddies in the park accompanied by Mrs. Claus and one of the elves. Last night I went to my first party of the season. Totally fun. Today I need to be Christmas Shopping, but I don't know what to get anybody. I have been knitting gifts for some folks, but I really need to get to the shopping. I don't understand what people want for Christmas. I don't even know what I want for Christmas. I do look forward to the time off work. I look forward to getting to see a few friends. I look forward to some of the special church services. I look forward to going to Firefly and painting pottery. sounds like fun to me.
This year our town is not having a Christmas parade. There is a rumor going around that there will be a parade this evening. I think it would be funny to get several vehicles with people and go park by the highway at the appointed time and sit in our lawnchairs waiting for the parade. We could see how many people stop to join us.
Happy Baking, singing, decorating, or whatever it is that makes you happy.