It's that time of year...

People around me have been bemoaning the traditions of Christmas.  "Are you sick of Christmas music?" they ask.  "I just hate the commercialism of it," they continue.  "It's such a hassle: buying the right present, wrapping, driving to see family, cooking that same meal..."  

I try not to listen to these people too much.  Christmas has been a rough time for me for several years.  I have battled depression and loneliness because my husband works so much during the weeks approaching this fated day, and our family is so far away that we haven't spent Christmas with them since before getting married 5 years ago.  

Out of necessity, I learned to prepare for Christmas.  I write  my Christmas letter in October, or at the very latest Thanksgiving.  I buy gifts throughout the year as I see things that my family and friends might enjoy finding under the tree.  This year I even did some of my shopping on the internet.  I wrapped gifts as I bought them and shipped my boxes in plenty of time.  

Please don't misunderstand me.  I'm not trying to be self-righteous, but if there's the possibility that getting out of bed on December 23rd might be a plenty difficult task, it behooves me to to enjoy the process of giving earlier.  By so doing, I avoid the throngs in the parking lots, the cheesy, secular "holiday" songs in the stores and the rush of Christmas.

For the time being, my season is still free of all the obligations that come with having children.  My attitude may change when the day finally arrives that they will be in my picture of Christmas.  But for now, I am trying to enjoy Christmas like a child.  I put up our little tree and creche scene, and strung colored lights on the house.  I take detours into residential neighborhoods on my way home at night so I can marvel at other people's creativity with lights.  

Thankfully, the veil of depression has remained at a distance this year, so I can truly enjoy this Christmas season.  

So ask me:  

The giving of gifts? Special.  

The receiving of Christmas cards and year summary letters: Heart-warming.

Time spent with family?  I  look forward to it one day.

Christmas music?  I love it.  The other night I sang my way through my Oxford Book of Carols, and I don't mind hearing that omnipresent waltz one more time...

It's that time of year

When the world falls in love

Every song you hear

Seems to say,

"Merry Christmas.  May your 

New Year Dreams come true!"

And this song of mine,

In three quarter time

Wishes you and yours

The same thing, too.