Somehow, it's December 24th -
Actually, back up; somehow, it's December.
We don't have any decorations up yet, we've barely been listening to any Christmas music, we haven't visited any family who doesn't live in the house, and we haven't wrapped any gifts. It barely feels like the holiday season has arrived.
Part of that has to do with what things are like out in the world these days. It hit 90 degrees several times in November, so it's still hard to believe summer is over, let alone that the year is winding down. Thanks to a COVID outbreak at Mike's work (we weren't exposed but the office is shut down), neither of us have gone into the office for weeks now, so we're starting to lose passage of time again.
We also haven't had the energy for a holiday trip, or the disposable income to spend much on gifts for others. We finally did buy a few presents for some of the people who live in our home (Victoria's brother, Andre; their mother, Teresa; and their roommate, Jeffrey), but we haven't even had time to wrap them this week - Victoria has been working hew new job, and Mike has been driving around all day/every day running errands (everything from grocery shopping to car maintenance).
Plus, we've still been dealing with some medical stuff - our dog Luke has needed new medicine for heartburn, plus Victoria and Mike have both been trying to get some doctor visits scheduled before the end of the year. And while nothing has been too serious, these things can still consume some of your thought/energy/spoons.
Sometimes this is just part of being an adult, especially in such an odd time like this. The pages fly off the calendar as we barely notice, stuck inside while the COVID numbers keep rising. The weather can't be trusted to signal the seasons (thanks to every year being warmer than the last). Buying medicine is obviously more important than buying gifts.
And, of course, there is no right way to celebrate Christmas. As a married couple, we will be forming new traditions every year, and it will be a long time before our version of Christmas is canonized. And the most important thing is that we have each other; we are all healthy and in a better place financially than we were last year. Plus, next year looks like it will be much easier than the last few have been, and we have some really exciting things planned.
That being said... Mike has some big plans for Christmas 2022... some ideas for how to make sure that holiday doesn't come and go quite so quickly. (One of those ideas may or may not include making the perfect Christmas movie watchlist for the full month of December.)
So, whether you are wrapped in Christmas sweaters and drinking egg nog around a roaring fire, or whether you are simply sleeping in and listening to true-crime podcasts... No matter how you spend the actual day, we hope you are having a wonderful holiday, and that you are safe, and sound, and surrounded by the people who matter most to you in the world.
Love,
The Christensens