It's Time!

Boy do I love this time of year! I am a total Christmas nerd. I want to buy a present for everyone I've ever met, because I love you all and also because I love shopping. I wear Christmas-themed clothing, because I am a face painter as well as a former elementary school teacher and that's just what I do. I love to decorate, and wrap, and look at gaudy light displays, and come up with dorky holiday crafts projects for my family. And bless their hearts, they humor me. The little ones even wear the embarassing clothes I buy for them. (I can only talk Chip into Christmas pajama pants to be worn when we open presents Christmas morning.) I also have a diverse collection of Christmas CDs, which I put in when WRVR plays that stupid "Christmas Shoes" song. I'll go back to normal music on December 26.

Although I start my Christmas shopping in October, (or earlier-love that Target dollar aisle for stocking stuffers!) I don't turn to the non-stop carols and jingle bell earrings until after Thanksgiving. But the season really starts for me when I have my "moment," the first time each year when I'm totally overwhelmed by the feeling that this is it, that it's really Christmastime. And it happened for me, kind of early this year, last Wednesday when I stopped in the Fresh Market to pick up something I needed for Thanksgiving dinner. Just me and a few hundred other people who also needed some last minute groceries. And I knew- this is it! We're all here for the same reason, united by our preparations for the holiday. So I walked around the store with a goofy grin on my face, talking to strangers and hoping I was able to remind them that this is fun. I wanted them to be happy for a minute rather than anxious about getting all their cooking done. Because what's to be stressed about? It's just food! (A motto left over from my waitress days.) With enough wine, all of your meals will turn out fine. Who cares if Fresh Market is out of French bread? I left the store with a smile on my face and a bag full of Halloumi cheese, looking forward to torturing my family and friends with Stryper's rendition of Winter Wonderland and a candy cane t-shirt. It's go time!