Although I resisted for years, I have become a convert. I now embrace the benefits of starting the Christmas season early. Prior to this conversion, I waited until the last possible moment and then ran around crazed, hoping some unscheduled happening (like the flu) didn’t force me to press on when I felt puny. But no more.
As I sat down to play some Christmas music on the piano this afternoon, I was struck with how I have time to enjoy the songs my fingers now play. Earlier today, I was struck with what a pleasure it is to listen to Christmas music without commercial interruption via my Sirius Radio subscription in my car. And, as I walked the track at the health club this morning, I planned my Christmas Eve dinner in my head.
My gifts are almost all bought; those that have been purchased already are wrapped and ribboned and awaiting the Big Night. The gifts that need to be sent out-of-town are ready to go.
I don’t know what really got me moving earlier on all the work that is associated with Christmas; it’s been a gradual habit over the past several years, maybe starting when Earl and I decided on an artificial tree over the real kind. Using an artificial tree means you can decorate it earlier without greater fear of the needles falling off. We liked that.
We liked putting our door swags on in mid- to late-November, when the weather was apt to be more cooperative. We liked not fighting the crowds in the local malls. We liked sitting in the living room in the evening sharing a drink and watching the lights on our tree twinkle.
And, if I know Earl, he will want to extend the season into mid-January. This too is a departure from my usual desire to take down the tree on New Year’s Day. No matter, I’m getting so laid back about this that we might keep the tree up until Memorial Day.
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