Must Be Christmas Now!

I never quite got into the spirit of the holidays this year. I tried. I did all that stuff one does to prepare. I put on seasonal music. I trimmed a tree. Then I sort of fizzled out.

It just never felt like Christmas...

Now, though, I get it. It is Christmas Eve. I know this. I am very good at picking up on the little signals. And they are everywhere this night.

The kitchen is destroyed and covered in flour. I am still trying to make bread happen and ignoring the fact that I could have easily done all this days or even weeks ago. If I think about that too much, I will cry.

The living room is littered with bits of wrapping paper and gifts as yet unfestooned. The Absurdly Gi-normous Kitty has thoroughly enjoyed this exercise in adhesives and bows. When he wasn't wrapping himself, he was hiding behind me and untying my shoelaces.

The Christmas cards that I never sent are mocking me from the table where I left them back when I believed I could actually pull off this holiday.

The Big, Fluffy Kitty hasn't been seen all day because she's lived here long enough to know that I'm going to begin chewing through the lights on the tree soon and she hates to see that. The sparking and sizzling is disconcerting to BFKs.

After I gave up wrapping presents and started sucking a candy cane into a fine point perfect for gouging out my own cold, cold heart, the AGK decided to go after the tree again. He has a new strategy for blending.

I makes mine eyeballs glow an' I lookes like lites! Mama didn't sees me at ALL!!!

Yup. It's Christmas. There is no doubt about it. And, while I'm feeling the pressure now, I'm sure I'll get it all done. I always do. Mostly. And what doesn't get done has never stopped the day from coming before. That's just how Christmas works. Then, when it's all over, I find myself remembering it as the best Christmas ever. I'll be thinking of it fondly come next December 24th and wishing things could be as easy as they were back then in those happy days of yore.

I am now off to finish wrapping, baking and chasing cats out of Christmas trees. I'll leave you with this lovely and traditional carol in order that you, too, might find the spirit of the season.

Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Night!!

SA