The Perpetually Late Grinch
Friday, December 26, 2008 at 1:33PM | 24 Comments Christmas and I have a very unusual relationship. Have you ever had a childhood friend that you thought you'd be close with forever? Then say for whatever reason, you end up growing apart, and you run into each other years later. It's always a bit awkward right? You feel like you know this person intimately from your shared experiences, but then you realize that both you and your friend are different, and it's difficult to reconcile your past with the present.
That's pretty much how Christmas and I interact. I remember so many wonderful experiences as a child, but somewhere along the way we drifted apart, and I feel like my friend Christmas isn't the same person anymore. What was once a wonderful time of joy and merriment has turned into a time of chaos and insanity. There's so much rushing around to buy this and that, and all the pressure to find the perfect gift, all while trying not to snap and choke any innocent bystanders. As a result, I tend to get a bit Grinchy this time of year.
So imagine my surprise a few weeks ago, when I began to feel a small growth of Christmas spirit in my heart. (I'm sure it had something to do with the unfettered freedom I acquired upon finishing school.) Not one to kick a gift horse in the mouth, I decided to do a bit of festive decorating, nevermind that Christmas was only a week and a half away.
I hit a few snafus along the way (didn't buy enough tree lights, the outside lights didn't work, the tree wouldn't quit leaning, etc.), and came very close to throwing a lovely Christmas bonfire with all the decorations. But I stuck with it, and managed to get the tree and lights up, and even throw a small party.
Then a few days later, it hit me. I had to buy presents still! In all the excitement of attempting to be festive, I completely forgot about the shopping. Just when I thought Christmas and I were getting along again, it decided to go hit on my little sister. (Figuratively of course, since I don't have a sister.) I tried to go to the store a few days before Christmas day, but I nearly had a psychotic break. All I have to say is, thank goodness for Amazon.com and overnight shipping. Phew!
For now, Christmas and I have managed to make up, mostly on account of the tasty holiday desserts from yesterday.
Oh, and also on account of the fact that I can now take all the decorations down and hide them in the garage until next year.
PS: In case you're wondering, I only had one gift knit, and I didn't even finish it on time. FAIL.
Reader Comments (24)
Amazon is a godsend for just about everything nowadays. They were my first Internet shopping love. Your tree looks perfectly quaint. I feel like the grinch this time of year too. Have a great New Year!
Awwww....I'm sure Christmas will be in touch with you again next year. ;-p
I'm with you about the Grinchiness. I actually think I have more holiday spirit than most but the shopping and baby Jesus really get me cranky. Then again, maybe I don't have any holiday spirit since this holiday seems to be only about shopping and the baby Jesus. I think you're right - we should all make up with Christmas over tasty desserts.
I survive Christmas by keeping it as low-key as possible - no expectations, no pressure. And yeah, receiving tasty desserts (mint chocolate cupcakes) from a friend really helped my Christmas spirit this year too!
Merry Christmas, Adam! The snow-covered tree with the lights is so pretty! I missed snow on Christmas. It was weird.
A lovely trifle, very impressive, especially for a grinch!
Oh wow, you did such a good job of describing exactly how I've been feeling about Christmas! This year was a little better because we scaled back on the gifts, but still I'm firmly in the "meh" camp about it all. Your lights and tree are beautiful though - that part of Christmas I always love.
i love the way your decorations look . . that' outside tree with just the lower part lit is wonderful.
i've been meaning to email you how much i LOVE my caterpiller socks, which i started wearing last week and are now my very favorite warm sox (it was 0 degrees here last week and they kept my feet warm . . . now that's a job well done!).
Online shopping makes Christmas bearable. I knocked out almost everything on Cyber Monday and was D-O-N-E. We haven't had snow here (booo!) but I love out our outdoor lights and the Santa my grandfather made that has been displayed at this house for 37 years ... but otherwise, I really enjoyed doing a low-key holiday this eyar.
Hope to see some shop updates in the new year! Great to see a blog post from you either way :)
Oh! I have that same bear ornament that you have hanging in the bottom, middle of your Christmas tree picture. Well, either I or one of my sisters has it - at any rate, I swear it's twin hangs on our Christmas tree. I love unpacking Christmas ornaments each year - in our family, we get a new one each year so it's a fun series of memories.
what a coincidental story. yesterday i saw someone that i grew up with. our families and the children were best friends. when i saw her, i still had that same zeal, but her response wasn't the same.
i'm glad you were able to get some feeling back for Christmas.
Happy holidays to you!
That is why I usually start most of my Christmas shopping in August, and finish by the end of November. This year, with an infant, I did almost all of my shopping online.
I forgot to say congratulations on finishing your graduate work. I have been under the weather alot lately.
The holidays always sneak up on me. Not having grown up with Christmas I enjoy it in spite of the nutsiness (and I think I feel less pressure, having a built in excuse). I think the best part is the lights, friends and family.
I totally love your description of the feeling...I have it too. However, that being said, Yarn Nerd yarn made my family warm and happy this Christmas, so I just keep remembering that in preparation for next year. I have 15 pairs of socks to make this year too.
Miss seeing you and the pups around the office. Come see the new building...it's amazing!
I remember Christmas being a time for caring and sharing when I was a kid. Now it's become so commercialized. It's all about how fast and cheap you can buy something and how many people you elbow along the way. I avoid the Christmas fighting by doing my shopping in October and when things start getting crazy I start buying stuff online. :)
I love Amazon. If all else fails and you can't find something to buy there's always gift certificates.
It's valentines day and you still have a Christmas tree on your blog!!! What's up with that??? Are you one of those people who leave their christmas lights up all year??? PLEASE give us some new reading material!!
Your loving Mom
Long time since your last post, I am sure you are crazy busy w/ school and such, but i was wondering how you are doing. Hope all is well
Okay you finished your thesis. Christmas, New Year's, Pres' Day and St. Patriks Day are over.
Are we going to get to read about your and yours (and those great doggies) before Easter?
Did you accidently roast the Easter Bunny and had to do the disappearing act yourself? Adam, it's not like you to be absent from blogland for such a long time - your readers are concerned!
Hey Adam! Where ya been? Come back come back!
erh um, Are ya gonna take down your yarn website and stop teasing people? Or are ya gonna get back in the saddle agin?
I miss you. I'm a nobody - a knitting lurker. But I found you somehow, through some other knitter site and I enjoyed your life, and your perspective, and your humor, and I miss you. I was so excited for you when you got your house and degree = fabulous!
I hope you are well.
Jill
Adam, you're teasing me here. This is the second time in like 2 weeks that your feed has updated, but it's all the same old posts. =( Post something new!