Well, here we are, pulling up on Christmas once again. For some reason, this year seems to have just whizzed by at the speed of light.
I have always loved Christmas, and am famed throughout the family for my holiday spirit. I'm the one who gets the ham and I'm the one who gets the tree and I'm the one who decks the halls with boughs of holly, and you know what? I never seem to get tired of it. Until January - then I'm tired of it.
One thing I hate, though, is holiday shopping at the mall. Why do people still go out shopping? That's a mystery to me. With the advent (no pun! ha!) of the internet, now you can do all your shopping from the comfort of your home computer.
No losing your car in the parking structure.
No picking through the scarves and ties on the sale racks.
No standing in line for the assistance of surly seasonal sales associates' attention.
No jostling with your fellow shoppers.
Holiday shopping is such a headache when you go out to the stores. I haven't done it for years. I use amazon.com for just about anything, and it's wonderful - the presents arrive at my door by UPS or US mail, and I don't have to go out and jostle with anybody at all. This year, my jostling will be limited to two occasions - picking my brother up at the airport (a major, major jostling venue), and picking up the Christmas tamales at Carillos Tortilleria. Other than that, it should be a jostle-free Christmas! Just the way I like it!
I'm posting this now in part because I don't think I'm going to be writing a helluva lot more before the new year, so:
HAVE A VERY HAPPY HOLIDAY AND BEST WISHES FOR AN ENLIGHTENED AND JOYFUL 2008!!!
Posted by wahzoh at December 6, 2007 10:32 AMThis year the Snapdiva wallet is mighty tight, so I am spending time making (and cooking) presents and cards. Preparing for Kwanzaa that emphasizes togetherness and sharing homemade items.
I haven't started my "Mochi" hunt as of yet for New Years' but look forward to another Mochi adventure.
So many winter holidays so little time...
I stopped doing christmas gifts probably thirty years ago. Even beforeI stopped doing christianity entirely. And I'm not one of those who really gets a buzz from shopping. (I think I'm more jazzed by the possesion than the aquisition.) But since I am often hearing hand wringing stories about the economy and the necessity of a big holiday season to keep the reatailers solvent, and I remember the statistic that something like half of all retail sales in the United States for the year center on the day of Mithra's birth, I do check to see how busy the malls are if I happen to find myself there. As far as I can tell the last few years they are not so busy. I don't know if the internet sales make up that difference or if people are doing less than in the past. Maybe fewer people are spending more money.
ch
Hello Byrd:
Congratrulations for holding onto your joy of the holidays!
Ii have also always had a special feeling for Christmas...not because of Christianity but because of family bonds...or my attempt to maintain them.
I went home for Christmas every single year from 1984...when I moved from Virginia to new York...until this year. I lost my father this August...my mother 20 years ago. I have a brother, sister, many nieces and nephews, and an untold number of aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.
This summer I rediscovered the humanity of my family...we really do share karma.
My father, it turns out, was a great humanitarian and all around buddha-like guy. He earned enourmous respect from his community.
My brother also is the same kind of person..very down to earth, not a great intellectual but a very talented and honest human being.I am honestly in awe of the life he has built for himself and his respect in his community.
My sister has some problems. She raised a great family of three kids and God knows how many grandchildren...(we southerners are real breeders...well, not me..)She needs some encouragement right now and my father's sudden illness and death has allowed us to grow closer.
But family is not always biological. My best friend Howard lives alone in rural Virginia...He was my original group chief in 1973 and still practices..(he had lapses.)
Some years ago his mother called and told me he was near death from a bad liver. I drove down right away. He was put into a hospice to die. I took the very controversial step of downloading a Gohonzon and making him a little homemade Omomori.(it was our secret)
To my surprise, he chanted and did Gongyo in the hospice! He always had a very pure attitude.
I sort of assumed he was a gonner...I'm a realistic person. My friend reminded me that Howard was a mamber and that he could defeat this.
He was right. I had little confidence. He slowly recovered...which is quite amazing, considering his condition.
Eventually, he recovered to the point that they kicked him out of the hospice and sent him home.
He has faced several other health crises since then...and been victrious in all of them.
Howard is my oldest and dearest friend. His victory was actually quite essential for me. I need him. I need his laugh, his sense of humor.
He is the one I most await this time of year.I hope he lives forever.
Howard loves tacky 1960's stuff..."kitsch"...so a few years ago I got him (on Ebay)a vintage Aluminum Christmas tree complete with rotating color wheel light..He loved it and it was a joy to bring it to him...it reminded me of what it's all about.
This is a rant...sorry Byrd, I guess I need my own blog!
To sum up, my life has been indescribably enriched through this practice. I have real hopes to revolutionize my family relationships in the future...Sure, we're cordial, but not completely open.
My Christmas wish is to improve that.
Thanks
David