Wasn’t it the1st of December just yesterday? And now we’re already into the second week of December! Where did those seven days go?? I get why December is like the weekend of the year; and the best time of the year- the weather is perfect for long walks, long drives, basking in the sun with a book and an unhealthy snack; while listening to music…the list goes on.
Disclaimer: the above list is mostly applicable to members of the Happily Retired Club!
Also, like all weekends, December goes by much too fast. For a month that takes 334 days to arrive and is so much looked forward to, it should linger a bit. But no, the days whizz past like a sleigh pulled by reindeer in a hurry to get back to the North Pole!
December is the best time of the year for another reason- Christmas! And the countdown to Christmas begins from the 1st of December. The holiday-cum-festive moods kicks in from that day and from then on it’s jingle all the way to 24th and 25th.
It’s also the only time of the year that I actually look forward to cleaning and de-cluttering the house. There’s this sense of enjoyable anticipation in the air and the dreaded to-do list somehow looks like fun. There’s also the desire to savour every minute and every day because an occasion like this comes around only once a year. It’s a bit like nibbling away at the very last piece of a delicious dark chocolate- you want it to last as long as possible.
When I was working, December would herald the winter break along with the birth of Christ; schools would close for ten days and lie as still as the little town of Bethlehem. Angels would sing in my heart and home as carols would play from morn’ to night and the ding-dong would NOT be the school bell but the Christmas bells ringing. And although our Christmases may not be white, it certainly is the time to be merry and bright
Unlike Ebenezer Scrooge who was visited by the ghosts of Christmases past and was haunted by regrets and unpleasant memories, every December brings for me many lovely memories of Christmases past. And when you reach my age, there are a lot of them. A lot! So every December becomes a time of looking back with pleasure and looking forward with anticipation.
As a child, decorations were made mostly by hand and the house would be littered with crepe paper, glue, string and tape (the scissors would always be missing), cakes and other goodies were made at home, carols were sung and not downloaded/played. The greeting cards were carefully selected, written and posted and the mantelpiece was a sight to behold- because of all the cards that we had received would be on display.
Time passes, some traditions change, life goes on. But December will always be a special month- because some things never change!
This lovely song just about sums it up.
Let’s sing Merry Christmas
And a happy holiday
This season may we never forget
The love we have for Jesus
Let Him be the one to guide us
As another new year starts
And may the spirit of Christmas
Be always in our hearts
butterfliesonmymindblog 