I begrudgingly put up the Christmas tree and decorated the mantle. Once again, this year, I wasn’t feeling it. Dammit. It is just so much work. I wanted it to go away. I was ready to skip the holidays if at all possible.
The tree has now been up for over a week. There is a massive mound of holiday gifts piled in my office. I did muster up enough energy last week to go to TJ Maxx and buy wrapping supplies. They rode in the backseat for more than a week.
This afternoon, I said to myself, “Dammit, Angela, you gotta do something. Wrap Brett and Josie’s gifts. Then you can just make them wrap the rest of the family’s loot.” You can wash your hands of the rest of the responsibility.
I put in my AirPods and listened to the Christmas murder mystery I’m reading for book club. I started feeling fairly festive, but not overly so. However, something happened as I opened my new wrapping paper, and the scissors slid through it effortlessly. I got happy.
Happy I could buy gifts for my family. Happy Josie would be home soon from college. Happy, with some of the goofy gifts I had bought my husband. I was also happy with the twists and turns of my Christmas murder mystery. It was a good day. Could I possibly have the holiday spirit? Surely not! I’ve been such a Grinch as of late.
I continued to wrap and listen to my book for an hour. At this point, I had several gifts done, including everything I had bought for my daughter thus far.
Most of the stuff she asked for was specific, but it was nice to be able to get her exactly what she wanted. She may not be surprised, but she will be happy. That is what matters.
I looked at my watch and realized I needed to stop wrapping and start dinner. I was feeling pretty sassy and full of cheer at this point, so I commanded Siri to play Michael Jackson. MJ always gets my booty shaking.
I had started out the day feeling pretty blah, but turned it around. I felt a little of the Christmas magic I used to feel, but had not in many years. I was in the zone.
I don’t know how long this Christmas magic will last. I still have to bake cookies, finish wrapping gifts, and go to multiple houses for festivities. It’s a lot—especially for a menopausal lunatic, but I feel like I’m finding my way. This is way more than I can say for my state of mental health last year. Then, I wanted to throw the tree off the back deck and set it on fire in the yard. So, major improvement.
The holidays can be tough, y’all. Go easy on yourself and remember it is about those you love, not the shit you can buy. I honestly don’t need or want anything for Christmas other than my family and friends. They are a bunch of fucking loons, but they are my loons, and I love every one of them.
Wrap the gifts, play the Christmas music, but most importantly, tell people you love them and hold them tight. This is what the holiday season should be about.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
