Thursday, December 24, 2020

Christmas

 Don't tell anyone. I love the holy hymns of Christmas, but a secret favorite is this one:






 It just brings to mind childhood days and the anticipation. The reason we couldn't fall asleep at night, the reason we were up so bright and early in the mornings, whispering together, all crowded into the same bed, waiting for it to get late enough for us to dare to wake our parents to see if we could get up.

But I grew up and...

...when I had children of my own, I wanted them to have that time of anticipation and excitement before the day was given over to the gifts and the rush of unwrapping, and everything after that anticlimactic. 

To that end, if they weren't up, I always kept a wrapping paper tube behind the bedroom door, and would crack my door to bellow "Ho Ho Ho" in my jolliest voice. I would then shut the door, leap back into bed and wait. The sound of footsteps as they congregated in one bedroom, and then after a time, gradually made their way down the hall and wait at the top of the stairs for the grandmother clock to chime 6. No one could go down stairs before that.  

Now I am getting older and...

...it is no less exciting to me to see my grandchildren getting excited. Today they helped wrap a present, and they looked for their gifts under the tree. They fixed me with wistful stares: "Can we open just one of them wight now?" 

We are lucky. I know this. There are three little boys whose single mothers have to work. Two of  them need schooled. So they are in our bubble. We don't have a choice.  Other grandparents are do not have grandchildren in their bubble. They are alone and struggling. 

These are hard times, and everyone is doing the best that they can. But if you get a chance, through skype, or even just a phone call, try to tap into a child's excitement. 

It will help. 

If you don't know little children, you can always try to find a big kid. 


Merry Christmas, everyone!


14 comments:

  1. It seems to me that, no matter what the current situation is, your Christmas will be full of love. Happy Christmas to you and your family Debby x

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  2. One of my favorite days of the year is Christmas Eve (which is why I’m up early this morning) and I think you perfectly captured the reason. It’s about anticipation and hope. And we all need that, especially this year. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  3. That's a new song to me, but I like the hymns too, even though I am not a believer. I was once, so the feelings arry over.

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  4. Christmas time is still a joy to me in spite of the fact my youngest son will be 50 in Feb 2021 Just pray we might have a better year.. Happy Christmas.

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  5. OOPS Something went wrong with my blog name

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  6. I love the traditional and classical Xmas music (like the Messiah) but also Mannheim Steamroller's updated versions of many of the songs. You are very fortunate to be with the grandchildren. It is delightful to experience the joy of children.

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  7. We too are lucky to have our grandchildren in our bubble. This is the first year I've not had to make a little bag of magic reindeer dust and I can't tell you how disappointed I am! Normally we have the children and their families for dinner on Christmas eve to free them all up to visit the in laws and out laws on Christmas day and every year hubby sneaks away from the table to ring a bell at the front door and he always escapes before the young ones can get there to 'catch' the elf who leaves the dust! We also have a small gift at the table too and I'll miss the fun we have, however, I know I'm very lucky and will see them all tomorrow - distanced of course. Wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas. x

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  8. Good morning and Merry Christmas Debby.

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  9. Fortunately, my girls never have woken me up and I have never woke them up either. Their style is to lay in bed until they hear my footsteps in the hall and then it is an ambush as they rush to wake "mama" up.

    Merry Christmas!

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  10. Merry Christmas , be covid safe, be happy x

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  11. We always let our two kids open one present on Christmas Eve. My daughter continued that tradition.

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