Hallmark is he only channel I watch. Christmas tunes play every moment that I am awake. I have a throw pillow fetish: embroidered, sequined, some even light up. And even though I have an entire spare room for storing decorations that barely fit, I still feel compelled to buy more every year. I have Christmas bedding for all four bedrooms and even Christmas curtains.
Many nights my husband and I sit by the glow of the tree sipping hot chocolate laced with cinnamon schnapps, just basking in the romance of the season.
The over-sized, live, nine foot tree that barely fits in the den. The tree I force the family to help choose before Thanksgiving to store in the garage so I can decorate on Black Friday. Or Thanksgiving night if I'm not too tired from cooking all day.
Side note: One time my parents-in-law came for Thanksgiving. Went to bed and woke up for Christmas. They were quite shocked.
Christmas is a wonder to me. The lights outside that seem to twinkle in the breeze. The warm glow that permeates throughout the house making everything seem warmer. The crackling of a fire. The smells of Christmas especially: breads, pies, cookies, candies, the evergreen scent underneath it all...
Christmas day is the culmination of all the magic, presents, happy and laughing people, a big dinner followed by games or movies.
Then there's December 26th. I get up to a sink full of dishes from late night snackers. My back suddenly hurts from all the baking I've done on my feet over the past few weeks. The tree is no longer a wonderment, but a dead thing shedding everywhere who's lights only highlight the dust around the enormous amount of knick knacks I felt the urge to place on every surface of my usually neat and tidy home. My house is no longer festive wonderland, but a cluttered, dirty mess I must clean up. I try to hold off for the sake of my family, but I swear my eye twitches looking around.
I'm from New Orleans originally and we are supposed to leave decorations up until January 6th, the Epiphany, Three Kings Day, which also kicks off the Mardi Gras Season.
I can't do it. I really try. I made it to December 28th this year when a whirlwind blew through my house and everything is clean and back to normal. My eye has stopped twitching, the knot in my neck is gone. Suddenly all is right in the world.
