...is quite a different scene.
The most drastic change in scene is in fact our weather. What's up with the three to five days of extreme temperature drop and wind chill mid November, followed by random drip drops of rain from time to time, and a hovering around 0 degrees winter Edmonton is having? I never thought I be saying this, but I wouldn't mind the temperature dropping below -10C, having a pile of fluffy white snow on my lawn and being able to bundle myself in layers upon layers of chunky cable knitted sweaters hidden in the bottom of my closet. Hello old man winter, did you sleep in this year?
I remember the days of my childhood when style was not a factor to consider when zipping up in puffy winter jackets and bulky overall snow pants so that you could jump into a meter high of cold clouds. Making snowmen, flapping your arms and legs to form snow angels, throwing snow at one another, building snow forts, tobogganing down small hills, and braving the chill after only being outside for twenty minutes, are the days of my childhood I wish I could pause and repeat over and over again.
As I get older, I find that this festive season was more fun as an eight year old girl. What I mean is that as a child, you have that childhood innocence where you are gullible of a jolly old man coming down your chimney (even if you don't have one)and anticipate for Christmas morning so that you can run down the stairs with impeccable speed upon getting out of bed, and begin tearing apart the wrapping paper keeping you from your mysterious new present. I would love to do what I did as a kid, but its just not the same. Christmas will always remain an important and favorite holiday of mine, but I feel a change in the ways I celebrate this annual season. Nowadays, I treasure the 'fun' of seeing family and friends at Christmas gatherings, hosting Christmas parties, laughing over eggnog and lattes, singing Christmas carols, taking festive photos, and knowing that Christmas is not about receiving.
Early on this season I had decided not to do presents this year. Aside from the two Christmas gift exchanges and the minor annual family giving I'm partaking in, that's about it. Another thing about getting older is that you don't really care for gifts no more. Its not what Christmas is about in the first place and secondly, you realize you really don't need anything. Everything you wish for is predominantly a want. You also feel that you are able to get yourself what you do what in the exact criteria, rather than telling someone to get you that "thing" and wonder if they are getting exactly what you asked for. Having said that, I still like to receive gifts, its nice to be thought of and receive a gift from someone, especially when its unexpected, but its just not a priority for me no more. Instead of materialistic things, I wanted to do other means of giving. In some more subtle and indirect ways than others, I gave my gifts, talents, time and money versus the typical means of giving this year.
Growing up means that my superficial and surface level meaning of Christmas is now behind me, while a more significant and sensible one is before me.
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