Here we are in the last few days before Christmas. The shopping’s (mostly) done, the baking’s been done (if it’s like my house it’s also been eaten so you have to bake more), the decorating’s behind you and so is the office party.
Time to settle in and let the spirit of the season enfold you. Your evenings can turn from frantic mall hopping to wrapping gifts. Each gift a reminder of the person you bought or made it for. A moment, as it were, of connection with them through the simple act of wrapping.
About the wrapping. I can’t let this one go so I have to share it here. When our children were little and I was run off my feet with the hectic holiday rush, my husband would take Christmas Eve to wrap all the presents. All of them. (Except his own, of course.) And wow, what a relief that was for me. One of the best gifts he could have given me.
The other day he was talking to a young man in our life and the talk turned to Christmas traditions. My husband blurted, “Well, a few years back, we had real Christmas with wrapped presents. Now, all you get is Christmas-in-a-bag.”
The young man laughed, but in that bit of humor, my husband let me know that he misses his Christmas Eve wrapfest. He misses wrapping gifts for his little children, (all grown) for my parents (gone now), for me (who has a lot more time than before and actually uses the bags). So, I’ve decided that this year, I’m giving him back his traditional wrapping night. I’ll go to our Christmas Eve service alone and he can stay home and wrap gifts. (G)
But I digress and must find some way back to my point. Aha! Yes, with the evening rush winding down, and the reruns of Christmas movies underway, you may find yourself in need of some quiet time.
Reading time. Oh, yes. Let me get back to my reading! Let my new pup find pleasure in sitting on my feet while I sip from a mug of hot chocolate by the fire. Let him please stop tugging bulbs off the tree, dragging Christmas cards and envelopes around the house. (Eating dryer lint!) Let him please understand the idea of peaceful repose and a gentle pat on the head.
Please let him stop chasing the cat in and around the decorated tree. Let him be the good pup I’m showing the world at my feet in my office as I write this. 
And please, let my husband enjoy his wrapping and his memories of Christmases past.
Even more, please have our fabulous Blaze readers continue to enjoy the stories we weave, and to have a safe and happy holiday season.
From my heart to yours: Happy Happy Holidays and may 2010 bring bountiful blessings to everyone.
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Bonnie, thank you very much for the holiday wishes. Sounds like you are definitely ready for some relaxation. That is sweet of you to give your husband what he is craving, tradition. I am not big on wrapping, but I guess if it was pard of your routine for a long time, it would be a missing piece of the holiday season. I wish you the best during this holiday season. Your puppy looks really cute, and I hope he fulfills those wishes you talked about. Now, if only the cat would stop instigating, he will stop chasing her, right? Enjoy your reading, sitting and relaxing, drinking hot chocolate by a fire.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Thanks Paula….you’re right about the cat instigating. It’s so difficult to figure out which pet is chasing or irritating the other. I’ve separated them many times then see the cat (an orange tabby) strut directly across the pup’s path. I toss up my hands and enjoy the show.
LOL on the wrapping. I offered my dh the chance to wrap everything for me after I wrote this piece. He chuckled and tried to pass the chore back to me. But later, he kind of smiled and said he could find the time to do the wrapping….no worries.
And then he installed a fireplace mantel he designed and built for me. I’ve wanted one for awhile so this year, he used the saw (he opened his gift and played with it early) I bought him for Christmas to help build my mantel. Heaven only knows what’s left for under the tree. although I doubt the dog will let Santa place any goodies under there…he loves dragging paper around the house.
What a season this year…we won’t forget it in a hurry. (&) (L)
Merry merry!
Bonnie
What a cute puppy! And cats usually start the trouble; mine always did. Luckily my dog is pretty beta so she’d just follow along and let them get her into messes . . .
And I’d happily let your hubby wrap my gifts. In addition to having two left feet, which makes dancing miserable and shoe shopping impossible, I have three left hands when it comes to wrapping presents. How did I get three hands? Well, if you saw the mess, that is what you would think.
Happy holidays everyone!
Whoever created the gift bag was a genius! Still, I like a mix under the tree, some pretty bags, and some boxes with fancy bows. But the thing I like most about Christmas is the lights. There can never be enough lights . . .
Bonnie it seems your gorgeous pup, when photographed, is destined to be mysterious silhouette. A dark shadow of puppy awesomeness . . .
Anitra, yes…Oscar the orange tabby instigates a lot of mischief then stands back and lets poodle pup take the heat for everything.
EC…I can’t figure out how to get a photo of a solid black dog that’s not silhouette. His pic with Santa has one pink spot from his tongue showing. What a cutie, but photogenic he’s not.
Cheers..
Your hubby misses wrapping packages and mine misses getting a Santa gift – the toy that magically appears, unwrapped, on Christmas morning. So this year, Santa is bringing him a remote-controlled helicopter.
Heather….he’ll love it! Who wouldn’t? (Y)
What fun,
Bonnie
Hey, just checking in for today. I noticed no one is up for today, so I wanna start something. Let’s make today a anything goes day for BlazeAuthorBlogs.
I hope that everyone can participate. You all are probably busy, hence the reason why no takers for today. So as a humble reader fan of all you wonderful ladies, I want to send out a big THANK YOU for all that you go. You guys ROCK, and I hope you all have a wonderful time with your families during the holiday season. Those of you, who are buried like me, I hope you have fun discovering the treasures of automobiles, and a fun time making snow angels, forts for the big snowball fights coming up, and just laughter. See you guys later. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Have a very Happy New Year.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Um, found a typo…meant to say THANK YOU for all that you *do, not go :-$ Sorry about that.
Peace and love,
Paula R.