Days till Christmas

Seems like every where I turn I get bombarded with the "you only have 'this many days' left to shop before Christmas is here." 

I sign on to eBay to check out things and there it is in bright red at the top of the page.  If you didn't know, as of right now, you have 25 shopping days left.

I guess I am feeling a bit overwhelmed.  With the economy tanked for a lot of people, there (as far as I can tell) are alot of people that are feeling overwhelmed.  I was just reading on a forum about how people are basing their worth on the buying of Christmas presents for family and friends.  I use to think the same way, and there are some days I actually still feel it and I start to feel bad that I can't go out and spend hundreds of dollars on people, but we must remember that Christmas isn't just about presents.  It really shouldn't have anything to do with presents at all.

The holidays are about family and friends and spending time together. 

The holidays are about sitting around a table and sharing a meal with old friends and new.

The holidays are about spending time with your family, remembering the loved ones that are no longer with you, sharing some laughs and possibly sharing some tears.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that.

Oh and in case you forgot, all the retailers really want you to know that you have 25 shopping days till Christmas. 

Chats around the bar while growing up

No, not the type of bar you go and have a few drinks or shoot darts.  I am referring to the bar that was in our house while I was growing up.

We had many wonderful chats there, shared meals, laughed and loved as a family.  We also sat there to discuss issues, get punished, talk about the game, or just enjoy each others company.  It was located in the kitchen and had four stools, and was placed by the window so you were able to peer out while you were sitting there.  We went through a many barstool, mainly because we kids loved to rock in them, but we always had that same bar.  It had chips, dings and dents, but it was still the center of attention, furniture wise, in our home.  That was always the first place we sat when we got home from school or practice, and the first place we would plunk down when we got up in the morning.

When we moved the bar stayed.

But when my folks moved back to the area in a new home, there was a new bar and barstools.  Then more memories were created.  There were good memories like sitting around the bar having a holiday dinner, laughing and loving, and there were bad memories like sitting around the bar on that cold December night when my Mom passed away, talking and crying and just being together as a family.

We learned about love and loss, made friends, played games and had many chats there. 

If only the bar could talk the stories it could tell.

Do the Holidays come earlier and earlier every year?

I know that it is not possible for this to happen.

But . . .

Every year, it appears that it does.  I was in numerous stores that had their Christmas decorations out before Halloween even made an appearance.  They had their Halloween decorations out in August.  I also know that the day after Christmas we will start to see Valentines day cards and candy.

Every day I cruise eBay and as soon as I sign on I see the countdown to how many days left until Christmas.  It is a reminder, a taunt, like a 3 year old child sticking his/her tongue out and saying "na na na na na na" you only have this many more days till Christmas.  Holiday music now plays in most every store, which I would guess to get you into the holiday spirit.  I wonder if studies have been done that would show that people buy more gifts or unnecessary gadgets when they are bombarded with holiday music?

Don't get me wrong. It is my favorite time of the year.  I have many good memories of waking up on Christmas morning and seeing the tree lit up and the gifts that Santa brought under it.  I remember sitting there cross-legged on the floor with my brothers, just staring at the packages trying to guess what was in them  because we weren't allowed to touch anything until Mom had her first cup of coffee.

Almost 6 years ago we lost Mom right about Christmas time and I never thought that I would look forward to the holiday again. But then you have your own family and though my little one is a little to young to understand the traditions that we have started will add more good memories to help ease the bad ones that have crept in.  I know Mom would want us to create more memories and to add to the family traditions that we had growing up.

I know one that will be carried on ~ "put that present down until Mama has had her first cup of coffee."

By the way my friends: you have 47 days until Christmas.