…as they say, the end of the year is the season for celebration, giving and reflection. All the pictures representing the season of joy and goodwill show happy people decorating trees and garland and tables full of steaming hot food. Smiles surrounded by songs and plenty for all.
It is also a distraction from reality.
Whatever your reason for joining in, whether it be faith based or commercial shopping or just traditional habit, we try to end the year on happiness and hopes for a new year of positive adventures and experiences. What of the people living under the overpass in below freezing weather down the block?
On December 25, the churches will have the feast of mac and cheese and processed meat slices provided for those who not have a home to go to all for a price of a sermon. As soon as clean-up is done, they separate back to unwrap presents, light candles and vast in the warmth of friends and family or bundle up against the winter’s chill in hope that tomorrow will bring sunlight.
No matter what the reason is for closing down the entire world, life goes on. There is still crime and petulance and births and deaths and disasters (natural or not) for the news to report on while we gorge. An excuse to wear silly costumes, over indulge and drink beyond our limits only to pay the piper as just rewards. In the calm of the holiday, there are still those who thankfully attend to our emergencies, for even on a holiday ‘stuff happens’. Try and find a plumber when the pipes break on Christmas day.
The hospitals still have beds full of people who cannot be let out yet and must be attended to, even on a day when everyone else is at home. The security patrols our streets hoping for fewer calls of mayhem and disturbance of celebrations getting out-of-hand. A bucket brigade will be immediately on-call if your yule log gets out of hand, no matter the weather or road conditions. Those keeping the giant data centers powered and cooled to provide you will the opportunity to share your holiday wishes will be having lunch in the rec room while their families wait.
There is still a week to stress about finding that last minute stocking stuffer or making sure the sheets are all folded for the overnight guest who are really related to you. Bundle up and travel about, in and out of brick-and-mortar buildings with heat adjusted as best to accommodate crowds of layered customers running in and out of the cold and bringing their sneezes and coughs with them.
With all the kids running amuck and the sweltering kitchen and the constant gabber, there’s that tickle in the back of your throat. It sucks to be sick on Christmas. Close enough to hear the revelry but quarantined to protect the others. If the illness is worse than a band-aid can cover and a box truck with flashing lights has to be called to haul you off to a professional to mend, the entire schedule is wrecked and the food is getting cold and the dogs still need to be walked and the kids are getting bored and it is snowing again. While it may bring down the spirit of the holiday, it will be one to remember and be retold to future generations.
Happy Holidays to one and all and hope everyone stays safe and sound.
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