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From Now On Our Troubles Will Be Miles Away
There are just some things guaranteed to not fuck up Christmas (and sort of even bring it back to life). Consider:
1. Bono’s super-serious appeal of the 90s: “This Christmas. Baby. Please come home.”
See also: every single song on the Charlie Brown Christmas album. (Just don’t watch the actual Charlie Brown Christmas special (aka the most depressing cartoon ever produced).) More holiday cheer? The Drifters’ White Christmas in Santa and reindeer form:
2. Break out the games you played as an eager kid on the big Eve. (Or, in my case, a game my husband played: Santa Bingo!) Don’t forget to re-read The Night Before Christmas too.
3. Watch Holiday Inn for the twentieth time — because it features snow, and Bing Crosby’s ability to dance circles around holiday anxiety. Then, after everyone else has gone off to bed, pop in George and Mary Bailey for a good Christmas cry. And if you have some leftover tears, have a quick listen to Elvis’ Blue Christmas — he’ll be so blue just thinking about you.
4. Make your favorite Christmas cookie. Butter cookie angels with white frosting skirts or gingerbread muscle-men made to look like Aaarnold?
5. Candy canes. I don’t care who you are — they’re just good. (Kind of. In a nostalgic, they’re-sticky-and-usually-don’t-taste-all-that-yummy-and-get-stuck-in-your-teeth kind of way.) Just stick them in some hot chocolate. Or that other hot beverage you have there.
It’s A Wonderful Life, and I hope you have a very merry one (and a good holiday too).
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Good Tidings
A nice thing to remember on a cloudy December afternoon:
It is, indeed, the season of regenerated feeling – the season for kindling, not merely the fire of hospitality in the hall, but the genial flame of charity in the heart.
–Washington Irving (from The Sketch Book)
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Bombardment
For the past six days, my inbox (something tells me your inbox too) has looked like a who’s who of desperation.
“Get Free Shipping + over $1000 in Cyber Monday savings”
“Enjoy 25% OFF & Shop Our Top 10 Gift Ideas”
“Today only: Great pricing on exclusive accessories.”
“Site Wide Event Continues… Last Days… Shop Till You Drop Cyber Monday Sales Event”
“Last Days to Save: Buy 2 Bras Get 1 Free, 25% Off Sleep, Plus More Great Deals!”
They range from simple to verbose, from stating the facts to obnoxiously begging for our attention (and dollars). But they’re all designed to do the same thing.
I like a good deal, and were it not for my bank account, I’d use the coupon codes I find much more frequently, so at first I was looking at these things thinking, ohmygodthatisagooddeal, until I got a little screen fatigue and realized I was letting them whip me up into a full-body rabid foam. (I don’t know about you, but I prefer life as a solid.)
I’m so overloaded by my inbox right now I’m actually feeling a little sick at the sight of it. But I don’t think that’s uncommon; it’s just so easy to be disgusted with the race to SAVE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
I wonder what it would look like if every copywriter had to switch “save” for “spend” — “LAST DAY TO SPEND!” — would it change the behavior or encourage it? OhmygodtheymustknowsomethingIdon’tIreallyshouldbuythis.
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O Tannenbaum
So, it is upon us. Tomorrow is Jesus’ birthday.
In the past, I was consistently more excited about this night than the night before my own birthday. (Presents for EVERYBODY, not just me!) But life goes on and people grow up and get sick and get selfish and grow apart.
Which is all a protracted way of saying that I’m not so much in the holiday spirit this year.
In spite of that, I’m hoping to salvage the day with a nice Jewish Christmas with my Mom tomorrow. (New York Jewish, anyway: a trip to the movies followed by diner food or Chinese. Does it work the same in Oklahoma? I’m new at this not being with family on Christmas thing.)
Anyway, let’s pretend I’m in the mood for all this, as I halfway was a few weeks ago, when I took these shots.
We acquired the perfect tree on Astor Place, and Eric carried it all the way home for me, because he’s a gentleman like that.
And then we realized how cuttingly appropriate his choice of shirt was.
Then, to add insult to injury, I tortured the poor tree and dressed it up all fruity.
All while it watched more of its brethren being sold just outside.
But as it turned out, it liked looking all pretty. I think it was won over by the shiny lights.
Plus, it got to look up a cute girl’s skirt.
And hang out with a peppy, clever little Dickensian mouse.
And a couple of monkeys. (These are supposed to be me and Eric. What, you don’t see the resemblance?)
And this guy, who looks like he could eat you, no?
Anyway, Merry Christmas! I hope yours is sweet and fun and just as long as you’d like it to be.
