Christmas is Lame
Garden Clippings for December 26, 2020
“Christmas is lame.”
These were the words penned by Ben on the flip side of his and Breanna’s personal postcard that came in yesterday’s mail.
Bre, the sweetheart that she is, wrote “miss you both, and wish you lots of happiness this Christmas and New Year.” In brackets she added “Sorry about Ben’s comments.”
Anybody that knows Ben gets it. Ben is straight shooter that likes skating close to the edge. Ben is not big on the establishment, and is quick to say anything that might raise eyebrows. Ben is also the most lovable son a Dad could wish for, and his heart is as generously big as a watermelon.
Of course, I would say the same for our firstborn.
A month ago, Ben and Bre moved to the far end of Canada. Cheryl and I have not spoken to Bre’s Stoney Creek parents, but we suspect that they, like us, were both ticked and excited for the not-yet newlyweds. Bre landed a solid job in health care while Ben took a sideways position with his current employer.
Like Ben, I too, will grumble that Christmas is lame. I am annoyed when the streets around Mall Road are plugged with holiday traffic, lined with shoppers heading for Wallmart to get more stuff.
I am annoyed by Christmas music that started sometime in November and will not go away till the New Year.
The annual job of hanging Christmas lights on our eavestrough is less than my favorite activity and the task of setting up the fresh cut Christmas tree is a close second.
Let’s face it. Christmas is an interruption. I rather like my busy life exactly the way it is, thank you very much, and I am not big on switching gears. It also doesn’t help that the beginning of the cold holiday season coincides with the slowing down of all things horticulture.
Yes, Christmas is an interruption, but I am also quick to say that’s what it ought to be.
Christmas is the one time of the year when we shift gears and almost all of humanity genuinely wish each other so well. We count our blessings. We find joy in giving. We receive with gratitude. We reflect on all things good. We give thanks. We are generous in spirit and in gifts. We cherish our loved ones, both here and not here. We spread peace and wish we could spread peace everywhere. We gather with friends over Zoom and we reminisce. We wish joy upon those who do not appear to have much joy. We decorate. We worship. We share.
It is my sincere hope that each of us enjoy the festive season in the spirit of joy, peace, and gratitude.
Next week’s Garden Clippings will deal with plants that are bullies.
