#18 Spill Everything aka yet another Xmas post

My friend stampgeek who has just recently started blogging posed the question: Thinking of the Season?

Then waited for my comment.  And waited. And waited.  Then he emailed asking “what gives”. It’s my own fault, I had set him up by commenting almost immediately on all his previous posts.

After leaving a comment that was actually longer than his original post, I realized my comment could be my penultimate NaBloPoMo post.  So here it is, in all it’s raw glory with a little extra formatting and extra photos thrown in to make it prettier.

The things that make me warm and fuzzy about the Xmas season include:

  • the first snow – the smell, the feel, walking in it, feeling the snowflakes melting on my cheek.Skipping Through The Snow
  • University Avenue at 10pm when the street is empty quiet and dark and all the trees in the median are filled with twinkling xmas lights.
  • forgetting myself and singing carols & holiday classics as I walk down the street and the beaming smiles that remind me I’m using my outside voice.
  • dressing up for and participating in the Festival of Lights parade and celebration on Dec 21st in Kensington Market to celebrate the winter solstice and longest night of the year.  Bring a drum and a light and join the parade to ward off the evil spirits and nasties that come out in the dark… then BBQ Pork, baby bok choy with garlic, Singapore Vermicelli, and pot after pot of tea to warm back up.Solstice Posse
  • Gerry insisting I leave the big red bell on my hood for the entire holiday season because it makes him chuckle when I dingle.
  • The Grinch – the original where the Grinch is just like those crusty old men who have lost connection with the playful side of themselves, turn to the dark side of playful, until someone shares the purity of love and joy that is just a smile away.  (Not the Grinch who needs serious therapy and some meds because of childhood damage, and is really just looking for a squeeze and some presents.)
  • decorating the tree with mom… and sometimes creating the tree with mom out of what ever we have on hand when she arrives.  Last time it was green cardboard, spray glue, some glitter and some plastic fruit that was in the recycling. Then she magically crafted an angel for the top out of tin foil and a fake pear.  She’s amazing. Everyone should have an art teacher for a mom.Pine Tree
  • inviting everyone over (and I do mean everyone – our friends and family list is over 150) and feeding them!
    It's Time To Fill Your Plates
  • the traditional giving of an Xmas game – and then forcing everyone to play it with me!Concentration Too
  • Baking. Lots and lots of baking. Shortbreads, loaves, nut bread, gingerbread dudes, cookies of all shapes and sizes.. with the TV tuned to the Xmas music station as loud as possible.
  • the smell, taste, feel and joy of mandarins!  Occasionally referred to as orbs of happiness at our house.
    Juice Bags
  • the excuse to sing silly songs at the top of my voice, or to cry for no good reason, without anyone thinking it’s weird.
    Turkey Pre-glaze
  • the smell in the house as the turkey cooks, the beautiful table that mom always sets and the fresh cranberry relish that Rosemary brings – yummy!
  • My occasional pre-Xmas trips to harass my friends and family in NB
  • Grandma’s shortbread cookies – which I now make and never do soon enough for them to age the month they need to be melt-in-your-mouth-amazing… and yet, they still rock.
  • that hour of melancholy that kicks in mid-day when you think of all the people you love that are far or gone. It’s sweet and sad and wonderful. Without it, it’s not really Xmas.
    Xmas Spikes
  • people saying “you don’t have to do everything he says you know.”  Agreeing, then going out in the bitter cold to help string Xmas lights anyway.
  • knowing that even though something will go wrong, someone will get their feelings hurt, someone will feel hard done by or slighted, we’ll all walk away feeling loved, with stronger relationships and understanding each other better (sometimes even ourselves).

I love Xmas.

Alexa Clark

Alexa is a digital marketer and author with over 20 years in digital & interactive communications in the food and tech industries. Alexa's CheapEats Restaurant Guides, for both Toronto & Ottawa, were Canadian best sellers. She is a recognized authority on social media and has been named one of Canada's 20 Leading Women in Social Media.

3 thoughts on “#18 Spill Everything aka yet another Xmas post

  • November 29, 2006 at 10:52 pm
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    Me too! Lots of lovely things to look forward to. But sorry I’ll be missing the dingle . . . and the BAKING.

    Reply
  • December 7, 2006 at 6:58 pm
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    geez… I don’t experience all those things for Christmas but I feel warm and fuzzy now anyways!
    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  • December 7, 2006 at 6:59 pm
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    You have done well Blog Master.Who gave you that shortbread cookie recipe anyway? Your post and comments to my post have reminded me of more of my warm fuzzy’s. I will re visit this in December with” Thinking of the Season Part #2″.

    Reply

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