... and since my very long Christmas Eve poem has been shared with too many Readers already, I’ll stick to prose for this letter. Many of you are familiar with my NLSC ramblings each week. The reason I’ve been writing this particular “column” for several years (and have now begun this blog) is simply to share our journey in a new land, at least according to my blog profile:
“NLSC is a Canadian immigrant’s journal. We’ve been living in Alberta for ten years now, and this rugged landscape has become our home. These oft’ quotidian blog entries describe our journey through the days ... our random thoughts, our lofty dreams, our faltering steps, our bright hopes. Please join us for a brief sojourn or an entire season.”
I plan on sending a handwritten version of this entry to several Readers in the coming days, primarily with the purpose of sharing some post-Christmas cheer (as much with myself as with others). No doubt it happens to the international community of consumers too and not only to N. Americans, but many shoppers seem to lose their sanity as December 25 approaches; this year the pressure to spend money—buy more—and get it all done by Christmas Day—started to annoy me more than usual. So I jumped into action. And did absolutely nothing.
Not a cookie did I bake, not a card did I send, not a gift did I buy (other than second-hand books for the children of our Christmas Day hosts, and “time” vouchers for the adults, e.g. a meal to be redeemed any time during the New Year). And suddenly I realised the pressure was off!
Lest you begin calling me Scrooge, let me hasten to add that I particularly enjoy writing in Christmas cards, and I even endure baking once a year (undomestic goddess that I am). And I appreciate finding just the right gift for just the right person—who doesn’t? But this year Christmas came and went with no fanfare at the Phillipses.
Each year end I love writing in and mailing out letters and/or cards not because of the date, but because of the overall celebration of the sacred season, and the chance it affords to reach out (beyond our comfort zones, for some) and tell those who share our emotional, intellectual and spiritual space how we feel about them. More on that in the New Year. First, a few resolutions ...
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