Christmas season is finally here

I was planning to finish unearthing the Christmas decorations this past weekend. The gloomy, wet weather disagreed and welded me to the couch instead.

As I was finally getting stuff out, I found several things that I had no idea where they came from. I found a length of plastic garland with plastic poinsettia blossoms and leaves attached. It was probably Mom’s, but she never used garland. I have never seen it before in my life. I stuck it on the front porch.

There were other decorations in the plastic bag but they elected to stay where they were. I usually put the nativity out first. We rearranged things over the summer, and the place where the figurines go is no longer an option.

Part of me looks forward to decorating for the holiday because many of the baubles were handmade. The crocheted ones were made by my mom. Others were made by our daughter or my sister-in-law. It has been years since store-bought ornaments adorned the tree.

Another part of me is lazy and wants to skip decorating as my hubby and I are the only ones who will enjoy it. Plus, real Christmas trees are expensive, and they leave their needles all over the place.

I hate to admit it but the silver tree I grew up with is getting more and more attractive every year. It is too bad that none of us wanted it at the time.

I am not looking forward to doing Christmas cards this year. My handwriting has gone from bad to worse. I usually look at Christmas cards as a way to catch up to ones I love.  I may have to resort to just signing our names instead.

One thing I won't be doing this year is getting upset at people who say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” or vice versa. I think that people who get upset at the greeting forget that we have more than one religion in this country, and they are all valid. A little tolerance would be welcome.

How do you decorate (or not) this time of year? Do you go with simple white lights or colorful ones? Does your house look like a magazine layout or a well-lived in home? Do you have pets that insist on redecorating while you aren’t looking? Do your children help? Do you decorate outside?

In addition to decorating, most of us who celebrate also cook. I have seen people make dozens and dozens of cookies, cakes, candies and other treats.  I like to bake, but the idea of baking multiple kinds of sweets is a bit overwhelming.

Many, many years ago I would pick a day in December to go shopping with my mom. We would go to Richmond and spend the day. My brothers were little and anything made by Tonka was a good present. We stopped exchanging presents a couple of years ago. They are way too big for toys, and the last thing I need is more stuff. I miss those shopping trips.

Somehow all the decorations will get put out. The shopping will get done. Hard-to-shop-for people will find presents under the tree just for them. They may or may not like the carefully chosen gifts.

Christmas will be here before we know it. Now, where am I going to put the nativity?