Between bouts of illness, deadlines and a husband laid out with a bad back, my Christmas season has shifted into a “get-r-done” checklist. Tree buying was an errand stop between the grocery store and the post office. I decorated the entire house just hours before my cousins arrived for a visit. Luckily their 48-hour stay occurred post-laryngitis-sinus infection, so I was healthy as we tailgated and cheered the Steelers in the freezing wind, then toured the ‘burgh complete with a ride up the incline and a sandwich at Primanti Brothers. Alas, as they drove out of sight I began sneezing and Brian’s back seized up, sending us both to bed for a long winter’s nap.
And then yesterday a little Christmas miracle happened. I went to Sewickley for a haircut. That wasn’t the miracle, or maybe it was because it set in motion everything else. First, I was 15 minutes early, which, if you know me, is itself a huge miracle. So I went into Starbucks and ordered a cup of cocoa. I asked for a mug instead of a paper go-cup and the barista thanked me for saving a tree. I sipped my cocoa while watching the snow falling on the sidewalks and lamp posts of the quaint, It’s-a-Wonderful-Life kind of village. My friend Laurie called me and we actually had a spoken conversation instead of texting. When I hung up, I glanced on the shelf in the coffee shop and found a wonderful book to give my sister.
I headed to my hair appointment, where the salon was calm and quiet, and I found myself humming along to the holiday music. Afterward, I popped in three little shops and in each one immediately found the perfect gift for someone. I drove home past snowy hillsides without hitting a stitch of traffic, and Brian and I shared pasta and red wine in front of the fire. We turned on the TV just in time to catch a Christmas movie on pay-per-view: Fred Clause, about Santa’s bitter older brother (played by Vince Vaughn), which was clever and surprisingly touching. Satisfied and sleepy, we unplugged the Christmas tree and headed off to bed. Before I drifted off I actually sighed with contentment. I was finally in the Christmas spirit.
Of course, this morning I woke up with what felt like an elephant on my chest. Between hacking up a lung and washing clothes I need to wrap and pack gifts to ship, make my last online purchases, change the sheets for the next wave of family, write a new chapter for the novel — oh, and my mother-in-law just called to say she’s stopping over. Better take a shower and clean the kitchen.
Merry Christmas!
I understand how hurried and hard it is sometimes to get into the spirit. I achieve moments of calm and wonder, only to be followed by the grinchy, “oh *bleep*, NOW what still has to get done?!”
Your post is coming at the right time for me, though, so thanks for reminding me that sometimes the spirit will come in the most unexpected moments.
I hope you and Brian feel better and have a great holiday!