Christmas is what you make of it

If the weather cooperates this week I hope to get the Christmas decorations out. Now that Thanksgiving is over it is time to get serious about the upcoming holiday.
I already have some of the shopping done but none of it is actually finished. I keep finding more stuff for my daughter and nothing for some of the others on my list.
I have decided that her family is getting books. The little ones are easy to buy for. Anything by Dr. Seuss for the little boys and a graphic novel for Emma will do nicely. The older two bonus children are more challenging, especially since one of them hates reading. I chose the classic, “A Wrinkle in Time” for one and am still searching for a book for the non-reader. I have decided on an audio book for the son-in-law. Daughter Beth gave me a title and author she likes so she was the easiest of all.
I remember the first books I ever got. My first grade teacher gave me an old Dick and Jane to keep. I couldn’t believe she didn’t want it back. When Emma was learning to read I gave her a Dick and Jane book. She thought it was odd and uninteresting.
The next book I received as a child was a book of poems. I think it came from someone we lived next door to when we lived in Dayton. This book was substantial. It was not a book to be read from cover to cover, rather it was one to be flipped through, stopping at random to read a stanzas or two. Now, my collection of books overflows the bookcases and spills onto the floor. I re-read them at random. Seldom does one of my books get read only once.
I know people who already have their house decorated inside and out and all the presents wrapped and ready. Their books stay neatly put away. They are way too efficient for me. I prefer to stretch out the preparations so that each day is a reason to celebrate.
I know other people who don’t celebrate any holidays at all. That is their choice. I send them Christmas cards anyway. If I can accept their not sending me a card, then they can return the favor by receiving one from me without complaint. This system works for us and our friendship has grown closer for us being willing to accept our differences.
I did receive an early present Saturday. I was moseying through the grocery store when a well-dressed lady came up to me. She handed me a coupon for five dollars off my bill. She said she wouldn’t use it and had asked the cashier to give it to someone else. The cashier informed her they weren’t allowed to do that. The lady said she would do it herself. I have no idea how she chose me.
It was such an unexpected present. When I finally made it to the register, I found that the $20 coupon I had planned to use had expired two days earlier but the one the lady gave me worked. It was the bright spot in my day.
Christmas is like that. People aren’t as afraid to be generous. We may run ourselves ragged trying to live up to our own unrealistic expectations but that isn’t what the holiday is about. It is about books, memories, and giving to strangers. It is whatever you choose to make it.
For me, I have a porch railing to drape in greenery and a cheap metal Santa to shove into a flowerpot. I have presents to buy and put into the mail. It is inevitable that bad weather will foil some of my plans. The holiday is coming and time keeps going faster every year. Christmas will be here before I know it and the porch railing won’t decorate itself.