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THE EPILOGUE: MERRY CHRISTMAS
The culture wars can really be exhausting at times. I like to be sensitive to everyone's beliefs etc. and you can wish me happy holidays or a merry Christmas because both are positive phrases. No one is saying "merry Christmas" and meaning hope you die, and no one is saying "happy holidays" Jesus stinks. So now that we have cleared that all up let's just admit that no matter what you believe Christmas is real. Whether Rudolf piloted Santa's flight with his shiny nose or three wisemen delivered gifts that were in no way suitable for an infant (baby Mozart had not yet been invented and they came A LONG WAY) Christmas happens every year. My neighborhood and yours is full of lights and displays and signs so it is real, and it is happening. Bah Humbug is also real and super annoying. The fact of the matter is that this event is happening whether you are a volunteer Christmas caroler or an Ebenezeer! So why not go along for the ride? You don't have to adorn your house and car with Christmas apparel you can just not be a jerk face and participate to the level of your comfort.
Your friends and family want to give you presents. People want a reason to be cheerful and kind. People want an opportunity to gather family and friends together and celebrate both common and unique traditions. These are all good things. You have all of these folks in your life that you love, and you want to give them something to show them your love. Wonderful! People that love you have either cracked your code and know what to get you or are racking their brains to get you something that makes you feel special. Wonderful! Random people are greeting you and wishing you a Merry Christmas or a Happy Holidays. Wonderful. I walk Ryker and there are all of these lights and displays (some of which he thinks are real). Wonderful! We have as a society decided to turn up the kindness needle three extra dials for most of the month of December. Wonderful!
We throw Christmas parties, bosses suddenly reward employees, folks feel more inclined to say kind things to people. Wonderful! We have agreed to let differences, slights, past grievances, petty revenge etc. slide for a bit. Wonderful! I have already received several excellent gifts from both friends and customers. Wonderful! I have already given out gifts to friends. Wonderful! I think if we think about all of various traditions and cultural legacies that Christmas is one of our bests. A cynic can rant about it being commercial or whatever else, but they are wrong. Are there a billion adds tugging on heartstrings and is there a pressure to buy the perfect gift? Of course, but that is true year-round. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Toyota Thon! We still watch, A Christmas Story, Rudolf, Charlie Brown Christmas and great new ones like Elf. We still pay attention to what folks want and get them perfect gifts and even when we miss, they know we tried. I have always been a great gift giver because I pay close attention, and I ask myself this question "what do they want but don't know they want." and if you know what they like the answer usually presents itself whether it is big or small. Sometimes you just demonstrating to them that you know their taste is enough. It means you have paid attention, and you care.
I had a very sad Christmas in 2012, I was walking home from my regular bar and wishing that I was somewhere else. It was that very day that I decided for certain that I was going to move to Charlotte. I didn't want to spend another year banging my head against the wall and going nowhere. And now almost twelve years later I still know that I made the right choice. I have spent this month helping to select great presents for customers and I will spend this week doing it as well. I love applying my skills and knowledge to help people find the perfect gift. It makes me very happy and lots of the gifts I am picking are for YOU! My loyal readers! That makes it twice as much fun.
I know that this holiday can cause sadness as well. We can miss those that are no longer here. Lolo always got me a fun Christmas gift and I always got her a fun one too, and I don't like her not being here for this one. We can feel sad about what is going on with our lives and our family. We can feel that this Christmas a certain spark is missing, but I think it is still there. I think it just needs a little kindling. You can hear those sounds, smell those smells, and feel that magic in the air. Sometimes you just have to let go and embrace what is going on around you. It is not a forever ride, nothing is. It is just another perfect time to participate in your own life and be a part of a collective experience. It doesn't require a total commitment; your participation depends solely on you. But if you get a surprise gift from someone you got nothing for, just accept it with the love it was given with. They just wanted to make you smile so go ahead and do that, and maybe next year you will get something for them, but none of this is transactional, they just thought about you and wanted to show that so accept the gift in that spirit and they will also be rewarded.
I wish you all the merriest Christmas and I hope that you can squeeze as much quality time as you can with the people you care about. Pick up the phone and call or text. Write them a kind email. California John and Sara always sends me a Christmas card. None of us knows how many Christmases we have so just try to enjoy this one in whichever way you can. I already got what I really wanted for Christmas which was Melissa Engleman's album, and I have listened to it every single day since I got it. I never need anything fancy or extravagant just something that was made with care and love. I have drunk and eaten a lot of the fanciest things but what I really treasure the most are the special things that feel like they were almost created just for me. I hope all of you are lucky enough to get one of those this year, and to give those too. Nothing is better than the real thing.
Merry Christmas
Cheers
Keith
Melissa sold out of her first batch of CD's already but a new batch has already been ordered! So for the music lovers in your life or for yourself go ahead and order one today. I can't think of a better way to spend ten dollars.
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