I'VE DECIDED...

           

…not to decorate for Christmas this year. What an amazing concept. What an easy decision it was to leave the Christmas tree in the box and the decorations in the attic. I am completely surprised at how freeing the choice actually is.

          Looking back over my eighty years, I really cannot remember a time when I didn’t do some kind of decorating for the holidays. Living with my parents, it wasn’t my sole responsibility, but I helped. Once married, John and I began to establish our own traditions and acquire our decorations. True, John didn’t decorate much inside, but he did put up the outside lights for many years.

          Over the fifty-five Christmases I’ve spent in this house, all those years found me removing all the various decorations displayed during the other eleven months of the year. Initially, there weren’t a tremendous amount of either regular or Christmas decorations, but I’m sure you know how it goes…with each passing year, objects are added again and again to the point I have no idea where I’d put the ones that sit about the rest of the year if I put out the Christmas decorations.

          There are at least six and maybe more large plastic boxes of Christmas decorations in the attic. Most of those boxes haven’t come down since John passed away. I simply didn’t feel like removing every item that graced the mantle, end tables, and various other flat surfaces in order to haul out all the nutcrackers, the toys from John’s youth and the ones we added, the Christmas stockings, nativity scene, candle holders and candles, music boxes…in other words, the entire plethora of decorations. The only boxes that came down prior to this year, are the one with the tree ornaments and the one with the wrapping paper. The only box that came come down this year was the wrapping paper box.

          When I made this decision initially, I rather expected to feel unhappy or even desolate at some point in time, but so far, I have not. I am performing the other “chores” associated with the holiday. I’ve finished preparing the gift bags filled with Aunt Lola’s dill pickles which I made in August and jam which I made the last couple of weeks. Those were delivered to friends and family. I’ll also did some baking in order to share as well as to have some goodies of my own. And, the cream cheese and smoked salmon made delectable cheese balls…I love those too.

          The year John died, I did my usual newsletter, mainly to let folks know John was no longer with us. I didn’t do another one until last year when I did one simply to let folks know I was doing just fine. This year, I’m back to not bothering to send cards. I don’t think that’s a rash decision because I’ve received less than five Christmas cards.

          Looking back and sorting through memories, I recall how fun and exciting it was to look forward to decorating the house, shopping for those special gifts, and preparing to celebrate here with family and friends. I’m enjoying those memories while choosing not to make any additional ones in my home.