I wish there were some magical way to make myself get into the Christmas spirit. Decorating the house with a tree and lights, buying presents and sending out cards just doesn’t appeal to me. It hasn’t for years. Many years.

Perhaps I don’t like Christmas because I don’t have any small children at home and my only grandchild lives almost 600 miles away. I have lived in Florida now for 10 years and being away from my family probably hasn’t helped the situation. Also, warm weather just doesn’t feel like Christmas either. Actually, I can’t remember when I really enjoyed the Christmas season.

I know the true meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Santa seems to be much more popular than Jesus at Christmas.

People seem to go into so much debt at Christmas, too. That is ridulous. I prefer my family to do/or buy me things throughout the year to show me they love me. My daughter Bonnie bought me a little ceramic chick for $l.99 at Goodwill, I believe and that meant a lot to me. She knows I love and collect chicken stuff. She saw it and it made her think of me. That is love to me. Not buying me an expensive gift just because it is Christmas.

The really great part about the Christmas season is that family get together and enjoy a great meal and each other’s company. Sometimes you are sleeping on an inflatable bed or a sofa sleeper but you are always happy to be there with people who love you.

I was thinking maybe I will start a Christmas Club savings account at the bank. Maybe that will alleviate some of the money stress I feel at Christmas.

It is difficult to decide where to be at Christmas…with my mom, sisters and one brother in Newport, NC…with my son and his family in Raleigh, NC or my daughter and her new husband in Woodstock, GA. My daughter, Bonnie is temporarily in Florida (which is sooooo nice). We use to go to my son’s house because he has a daughter and being at home with the tree and presents is important. But now that she is getting older, they have opted to have Christmas morning alone with her. I can certainly understand that. Afterall, you can open presents and spend time together anytime during the Christmas season.

So…we are spending Christmas with my Mom this year. This is her first Christmas without Dad. I know that is going to be difficult for her. She loves presents, I think. She will miss Dad’s presents and presence.

Well, I guess the least I can do is say “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
If anyone has any suggestions on how I can start enjoying the Christmas season….please let me know.