Christmas Day

It’s Christmas morning, and I’ve woken early, as I do most Christmases but this year it doesn’t feel like Christmas.

This year has felt distinctly un-Christmas-like despite the almost 40cm of snow that have fallen in the past 4 days; or maybe that’s part of the problem. My Christmases, in recent years, have NOT involved snow of such magnitude - I visit my parents at Christmastime to get away from the snow.

I am almost completely convinced that the composers of such classics, “White Christmas” and “Winter Wonderland” lived in California and had a romantic idea of what snow at Christmas means. As for me, as I sit here sporting an “impressive” black eye from a freak snow shovelling accident - “Honestly officer, I accidently hit myself in the face with a shovel handle” - I’m not so keen on the white stuff and am seriously thinking I need to propose Christmas in Cancun next year!

Another reason it doesn’t feel like Christmas to me is that we’ve not been able to do all our traditional Christmastime activities. With all the snow, rather than heading out to a mall on one of the days leading up to today and just having a wander around, we opted for the more “SWAT Team approach” to shopping - plan your campaign, then get in and get out as quickly as possible!

The other traditional thing we missed out on this year was attending Christmas Eve service at a local church. We aren’t a religious family but still we like to go to church on Christmas Eve and listen to the readings and sing the hymns & carols; but this year, bad weather and flight delays meant that there wasn't time enough to get to the church service. That Christmas Eve glow was lost this year; I always feel strangely uplifed and decidedly Christmasy after attending church. This year, the whole tone of the season seems to be missing.

And I imagine, with the snow, our Christmas day tradition of walking on Crescent Beach will also become yet another missed tradition.

I draw comfort from tradition, especially at Christmas; the tree, the food, the activities, the company. I guess I still have the tree, the food (my mum makes the best Christmas baking on the planet) and the company - 75% is still a passing grade. And if I really stopped to think about it, the most important Christmas tradition for me is the company and I did manage to be with my family at Christmastime!

That, for me, is the ultimate tradition and one, if it is within my power, I will never miss!

The more I think about it, the more I realize how lucky I truly am for being able to spend Christmas with my family. I have been grouchy about the weather and disappointed with the missed traditions, but there are many people that cannot, for many reasons even be with the ones they love and care about this Christmas and I am truly thankful that I am not one of them.

My heart goes out to all who cannot spend Christmas with those that they love. I have to go now and hug my family and thank them all for making Christmas day special. And to all of my friends who I cannot be with this Christmas day - I’m sending you a virtual hug in the form of this blog. I hope you all get a chance to read it and know that I care about you.

In this season (as with all the year) it is important to hug your family and friends and show them that you care.

Happy Christmas to all!