12 DAYS: Who Put the X-HAUSTION in X-MAS?

Yesterday at my Day Job (my Night Job being that of a reader, writer, dog-walker and fur vacuummar. Sounds French, n'est pas???), I was preparing for a conference at a co-workers desk when he began shoving a large box across the floor. He hurriedly dismissed it in a sort of morse-parental code. “Ebay.Presents. Kids…Tap.Tap.Tap". As a mother, I understood this language completely. Then, he moved aside a sheet of paper, which from the distance of my vantage point, seemed to be written in a sort of cryptic Dos, while muttering under his breath, “My Working Orders…” I shot him an inquisitive look and he explained that it was his Christmas Shopping List. As the page looked quite full and since I am the unorganized mother as ONE, I was curious to see what a Christmas shopping list for FIVE children looked like. Yes- count’ em 5 children - ranging from ages 2 to 16.

As I stared down the list, I was immediately filled me with DREAD. I had the same sense of being overwhelmed as I did before I started taking anti-anxiety meds. The same sense Santa- the REAL one- must have when looking over the Christmas Lists of ALL the children of the world.

Yes, here was an actual Excel spreadsheet with 5 columns labeled at the top with his five children’s names. Under each name was approximately 5 or 6 items, ranging from winter parkas to electronics to guns and camping gear and the like. Certain items were checked off and other items were highlighted, an indication that Santa still had more shopping to do. Beneath that listing was a separate category labeled “Stockings”. Small items, ranging from perfume to candy filled that area with the same checks and highlights as above. I stared in amazement.

As I scanned the list, he explained that he would need to take a day off work to “set up” and test- drive all the toys and electronics. Each child’s loot would be assembled in piles in the garage to see if things looked “equal” and to make sure nothing was forgotten. I shook my head in amazement. “I cannot believe ALL this“, I remarked, not that the list looked so indulgent but because of the sheer magnitude of it all. “You know,” he said. “My whole life revolves around paying the mortgage, paying taxes and Christmas.”

Well, HO HO HO!

Everywhere I look, it’s the same for everyone. Not so literally maybe, but everyone I know seems overwhelmed with the holidays, from decorating to shopping and wrapping gifts. And I am NO different.

So I ask myself and you as well:

“What is the REAL meaning of Christmas?”

I know the Christmas Story, and we all know what we should say here, but in real-life practical secular and everyday, everyyear terms, what are YOUR favorite Christmas traditions? What makes Christmas especially memorable?

I’ll have to confess, the shopping and gift-giving (nor the gift-receiving) are NOT my favorites. I truly appreciate when someone chooses to remember me with something special, but my favorite gifts to receive are those which create a “memory“. Take me to a play or a concert. Invite me for dinner. Give me a gift certificate for a massage. Honestly, after spending the last year trying to down- size my household (and I don’t mean to sound unappreciative) the LAST thing I want or need is something that I will eventually have to shove in a drawer somewhere, ANYWHERE in my ever-smaller shrinking house!

Truly my favorite thing is this: I LOVE to bake cookies! I am a little too proud of myself that my cookies are accepted with familiar, eager smiles by most of my friends and family members. Maybe they are watching their weight and are really thinking, “Oh no, more FOOOOOOOD!!! L L L ” but I give this gift with all my heart, lots of sugar as well as a heaping handful love.

I also love visiting with friends and family whom I don’t seem to find the time to sit down with all year long. I especially love visiting with the older folks, aunts and uncles, the parents of my best friend- all the folks whose ages sneaks up on me in yearly increments. For many folks, it’s a time to reminisce about good times, about those we knew who are long gone.

I love Christmas Carols, although I don’t love to hear them in November. I love to listen to them and sing along with them in the car. Every year, I think I’ll go caroling, and occasionally I do! I love Micheal Buble’s new Christmas CD (and his cute little Canadian smile) as well as A Charlie Brown Christmas and Christmas on the Range, a medley of cowboy Christmas songs.

I love decorating the dogs and cats with humiliating sweaters and antlers (or the best being a combination of both!) This year, I purchased a very distinguished-looking red plaid bowtie for my dear old 14 year old Schnauzer, Shredder. He is a gentle dog, despite the aggressive sound of his name. (What can I say? He was named by a 5 year old after a teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?)

There is so much I love about the holidays, so much that seems REAL!. Then again, maybe what I feel is “real” to me sounds superficial to others of you out there…

It just may be that the true spirit of Christmas is in the hand, if not the eye of the beholder?Or at least the one with the completed Christmas List?

So tell me, what are your favorite traditions and what are the ones you can do without???