Love/Hate Relationship With Christmas

For years, I have had this love/hate relationship with Christmas. Well, maybe even the whole holiday season starting with Halloween. I don’t know why, because I’m always excited to see pictures from the kids or, even better, to see them. I will say it has gotten stronger, this emotion or feeling I have. This year is less than some years past, but I think this is just because of the distraction of house and landscape construction projects occupying my mind.

It is always the same thing; we start getting closer to Halloween and Jen starts getting excited. I don’t think I have ever known anyone that gets totally emersed into each of the holidays. It’s not just the late in the year holidays for Jen, it starts with Valentines, slides into Easter, July 4^th fireworks, and then Halloween. The whole ghosts and goblins thing is fun to a point, but I never understood the whole concept of candy or else! But for Jen, it isn’t just the marketed side of it, no it has meaning to her and a belief in the All Hallows Eve, the moon phasing, and the pagan symbology of it.  Not an unhealthy obsession, it is purely good fun for her. I would like to shut the lights off and not answer the door if I could get away with it.

Then we start moving into Thanksgiving. Ah, eating and football!! What, that isn’t what its about? For me it is and I do look forward to the meal because that is another secret talent Jen has but doesn’t like to share on a daily basis. The woman can cook and if you haven’t had a 48-hour brined turkey, well, I’m sorry, you just haven’t enjoyed one of the finest things in life. I am literally full before I ever sit down. Being the official turkey carver, I relish my opportunity to test the food for the safety of all involved. I’m told I make a pretty good fried turkey, but it is just the stomach warm up and the treat to keep the natives at bay as we endure the inevitable delay in getting to eat at the designated hour. We have had some doozies for past turkey day delays, the oven getting turned off and not realizing it for two hours being the worse. The rest aren’t coming to me, but believe me, it is a yearly catastrophe to our anticipation and mouth salivating, so I started making the fried turkey. We fight over the good parts, the skin, and being a ten-to-twelve-pound bird, there just isn’t much to go around. Speaking of turkeys, we have to remember to take both of them out tomorrow to begin thawing. Buy oil, get brine stuff, clean the brine bucket, and dote around Jen keeping her happy this week so that she performs at her highest level!  Although, a bad day in the kitchen by Jen on Thanksgiving is still better than most anyone you know and I’m willing to fight for my belief in it or just give you a taste and let you figure it out on your own.

And then there is Christmas. This year we have started decoration a full week or more before Thanksgiving is even here. But I have to say, under my breath of course, that I’m really excited this year. You see, we get to have all five of our kids, all seven grandkids, and yes, we are excited for each and every one of their spouses too. Jen is amazing with her decorations, a little slower this year as a result of surgery to her shoulder, but one look at the tree and you know all about the love that goes into the effort. Everywhere you look, you will find Christmas. Some subtle, some more in your face. But when those kids walk in, young and old, they will know it is the season of Santa Claus, presents, family fun, late nights, early morning, sticky buns, prime rib, bourbon, Santa train, wait…. Prime Rib? A first for us, but man I’m looking forward to it. Mashed potatoes, fresh veggies, and the deserts. Oh man, the deserts. The Cranberry cheesecake, pecan pie, pumpkin pie, Kate’s candied treats (hopefully), Sandra’s bourbon balls, college bowl games, the laughs, the tears, and most of all, the love shared in honor of Jesus’ birth. Midnight service? Maybe we’ll do again, not sure how everyone feels with that bastard Covid still hanging around.

You know, maybe there is no hate at all with any of it. Just the dread of the preparation that is outweighed magically by the participation in the magic of the holidays. A child’s face lighting up, the exhausted naps after amazing dinners, and the secret ingredient in each and every moment stirred by one of the best good witches you could ever ask for.  My excitement is rising, so many good things happening this year for members of the family, a first Christmas for one and the anticipation for one brewing a certain soon to be for a first time Mom. And you guessed it, Jen will be right by her side stirring her finger and making magic once again for a new member of this family to be welcomed into the fold. But for now, bring on the turkey and prime rib, Buddy is hungry and I need some family around me to refill my heart with love, not hate, I just don’t have time for it! You know what? I’m so excited and will try to enjoy every day leading up to the chaos of Christmas and a full house!