Tis the season to be jolly. The Countdown to Christmas has begun. The U.S. has had Thanksgiving as have we more than a month earlier. We have been offered everything under the sun on Black Friday and beyond in sales and now we can see as many as 3 Christmas movies a night.
I used to indulge occasionally in these films. I suppose they are the film version of Chick-Lit but until this year it didn't occur to me to watch more than one from time to time. This year however, is different.
I think perhaps that this year, 'I need a little Christmas'. I say this because I am actually seeking out these films and particularly enjoy seeing whole towns in the film being decked out with Christmas trees of every sort and tree lighting ceremonies opening the festivities.
Most of the films, including at least 30 new ones debuting this year feature a lot of hard working young men and women rediscovering the joys of friends and families meeting and usually also reconnecting with the Christmas spirit that they once enjoyed in their lives.
It is almost like something in me needs to reconnect with my own Christmas spirit sooner rather than later. I know this year it seems more important than ever.
I know only too well that I will miss the two people that died, or as these films usually say, 'passed', this year. There is no doubt that losing another brother who courageously endured great and constant pain of long duration, can't help but remind me of the many happy memories of decades together. The friend that I made after my mother died, 24 years ago, united me with my mother for these many years because we cherished and remembered her together.
I pause again to realize that one of my favourite aunts has now been gone for a year. I remember her especially because she died on her 95th birthday a year ago while at her desk, doing what she always did, writing thank you notes to the many people who cared for her.
It is, however, more than the passages that the year has brought that make this year almost require a conscious attempt to resuscitate and somehow revive the joyous child that once innocently and unreservedly enjoyed this happier than usual time of year.
It is also the 'State of the World'. This is actually chronicled in a paperback book of statistics and such that comes out once a year. Suffice it to say, this year's must be a doozy with all of the anger out there coming at us from all sides.
Most of us can see that even friends and family are polarized and at odds with those who disagree with their responses to the daily diet of outrage coming at us from what passes as news today. There don't seem to be any 'neutral' places out there anymore.
Even when you determine to consciously avoid this today there seems no escaping that even your family and friends have been effected by the polarizing opinions of almost everyone you meet throughout your day.
Perhaps it is self defence on my part; perhaps hiding my head in the sand is my reaction. All I know is that, this year, I most definitely need a little Christmas, and I need it now.
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