Wednesday, December 25, 2013

And so this is Christmas...

I had a more contemplative Christmas than I generally do and I'm not sure that's all bad. I actually weighed the cost (not financial) of an invitation the night before Christmas eve - Festivus! - and declined, deciding I'd like to spend the time quietly instead. Or mostly quietly. I did manage to watch some absolutely abysmal Christmas movies on Netflix while I wrapped presents and filled stockings and broke beans for tonight's dinner. The last straw was what surely must be the single most poorly acted Christmas movie ever made. It's called "All She Wants for Christmas." One of the two leads was supposed to be an MBA-candidate who was doing research on corporate efficiency. She had a really high-pitched voice, ended each sentence with a rising inflection and interspersed business jargon with incessant giggling. Yeah, she ought to make a killing in the business world. If you are ever bored and tempted to watch it, you might be better off pounding your own head with a hammer. Consider that a public service announcement.
So I was glad to see the kids arrive this morning, bringing their music and laughter and general chaos with them. At the moment, they are playing guitar and violin and the now-familiar tune of "Rocky Road to Dublin" is wrapping around me.  I enjoyed watching them empty out their stockings and plow through the candy and giggle over the toys I always add in. It's fun playing Santa.
I went for a walk out at the lake this afternoon and watched a couple of young kids testing out their new bikes. The smaller of the pair had a spectacular first crash and I was a lot closer than the rest of the family, so I ran over and hoisted the little girl to her feet and had her hike up the leg of her pants so I could check her scuffed knee. No blood, and she thanked me through her tears. I was struck by the battle on her face between her pain and her interest in interacting with a friendly stranger. Another life metaphor handed to me, and I walked away feeling lighter.

32 comments:

  1. smiles...glad you were there for her...
    oy, you never really know on christmas movies..ha. there are def some stinkers out there...
    and hey, nice pic...smiles
    merry christmas

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    1. So am I - it always feels so good to be able to help in a situation like that, and her family also thanked me.

      Merry Christmas to you, too.

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  2. Sounds like it was a good day. LOL about your movie review, mindless TV I call that with that movie. Good to have on the back ground for noise when you are doing other tasks :)

    Sweet too to be able to comfort a little one when she fell and to help her to know there are caring people in the world along with her parents!

    betty

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    1. Mindless indeed! I just wanted something CHristmassy on while I worked.

      I believe that every positive interaction we have enriches us in some way - so both the little girl and I gained from that.

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  3. I had forgotten what havoc a 3 year old can raise on christmas morning opening presents......it was great! Then a nap in the afternoon (grandpa's perogative), and ham dinner.
    Merry Christmas!

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    1. Yes, they are little bundles of energy, aren't they?

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  4. Jenny and I have sat through a couple of disappointing movies too. But plenty of delicious food and wine and a nail-biting chess game have compensated!

    Good that you were there for that little girl's mishap.

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    1. Thankfully, there was plenty of good to counterbalance the bad movies!

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  5. Lovely about that little girl, and glad you enjoyed the happies in peace and contentment.

    XO
    WWW

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  6. I made it through 2013 only having watched one movie (Hunger Games on DVD). I hope to see none in 2014. We all have our limits!

    Hope you had some fun with your sons!

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    1. I like movies most of the time. But I virtually never see them except at home.

      I did - I'm enjoying having them here.

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  7. 'I had a more contemplative Christmas than I generally do and I'm not sure that's all bad."

    Me as well! It was a very conscious-altering Christmas for me, which I am very grateful for. I needed this.

    Like you, I stayed close to home yesterday and watched a few Christmas movies (Noel, Holiday, and It's a Wonderful Life). I ate, took several naps, and spent time reflecting. It was a great Christmas.

    "I was struck by the battle on her face between her pain and her interest in interacting with a friendly stranger. Another life metaphor handed to me, and I walked away feeling lighter."

    LOVED that!

    X

    P.S. And I love the photo of you as Santa!!!!!!

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    1. I'm glad to hear it, Ron. I think you picked better movies than me, though!

      And thank you!

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  8. Quiet is good. Occasionally, the need to reconnect with oneself needs to be heard and acted upon.

    Best wishes for a happy new year.

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    1. I seem to have been feeling that need a lot lately.

      Same to you!

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  9. I like Betty's comment! There's so much paranoia out there about approaching children, it's nice to let the world know that Hey, most of us are decent people, glad to help! Sounds like a nice quiet Christmas, time to think. Here too.

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    1. It's a tough balance - because you want kids to be careful but also to know that there are lots of good people. I guess it helped that her own parents weren't far away.

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  10. Seems like you experienced a lot of different emotions this Christmas. ((HUGS))

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  11. Thanks for the movie review--if I see it on around here, I'll grab there remote before the hammer starts flying.

    Your house of music sounds wonderful. Unfortunately this year, I missed the in-laws mini-jam session on Christmas evening with all the relatives in various stages of music lessons. I have no talent, but am a good listener.

    Hope your great smile continues indefinitely...

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    1. I have no real musical talent either, although just from exposure I'm learning the lyrics to lots of Irish ballads.

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  12. Tsk! For shame. You just taught the poor little girl that not all strangers are bad. Her parents will not thank you.

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  13. I always liked the white Christmas trees my mom did. Yours is beautiful!

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    1. Thanks. Growing up, our tree had big colored lights, but this suits me better.

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  14. My wife watches those horrible Hallmark channel Christmas Movies. They're so phony they make me nauseous.

    I am Agent 54 of the NSA (Nominal Secrets Apparatus) under the DORD (Department of Redundancy Department) How come we never met before?

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