The other day, I bought a tree for Christmas. After much searching, I was able to find the type that we have had the last few years and have liked, but it isn't the "greatest" tree this year. From the gardening centre that shut down a couple months ago, we were able to pick the trees before packaging them up in netting for transportation. These ones were pre packed, which other than the height, means sight unseen.
It is like our previous tree's...
Ugly cousin.
But in keeping with Smallsteps' mouse obsession, we have decorated in gold and mice, which makes the tree somewhat passable, so it doesn't have to get locked in the basement until it gets thrown out in the new year.
Of course, having an ugly tree doesn't affect Smallsteps' opinion of Christmas, which she loves because we make a bit of a game of it. Not only does she get an advent present each day, we have a little elf door attached to a wall, and each morning the elf leaves a grammatically incorrect note for her to read. My wife writes them, and they talk about things that are going on in her life, like having the dog visit, or nibbling on the gingerbread we made the other night. It is a bit of fun.
My wife also started a little bit of time off today, so she won't go back to work until the new year. As Christmas days off fall mid-week, it is a good time to burn some banked overtime hours and extend the break. I would have done the same, but well, I am on extend break from work anyway. Though, my break adds a slight bitter aftertaste to Christmas.
Though, I am trying not to let it affect me and instead attempting to stick to my plan of taking it pretty easy through December, taking care of things at home instead. It is quite strange though, as I spend so much time alone, not talking to anyone at all. It isn't lonely, but it is a little uninspiring as far as conversation goes. I like talking to people face to face.
Must be my age.
The mouse above is close to the star atop the tree, and it was chosen by Smallsteps and bought by my wife a few weeks. They decided they would buy one together every year from now on, but I don't know how long the mouse fascination will last. Hopefully for a little while, because we have a lot of mice now.
With Christmas only a few days away, I think this weekend will be spent doing the cleaning and prep for the food. Thankfully, the grocery store nearby is open 24-hours, so I can do the shopping late at night. Everywhere is packed now, and there are a lot of frustrated people driving and pushing around like they have never been around other humans before. I don't remember it being like this a decade or two ago, but I think it is a sign of the shifting focus toward the commercialised Christmas - the Instagram Christmas.
We will head to my sister-in-law's for the family meal on the 24th, but other than that, we will be home with just the three of us. So probably, we will make a small ham for us, and just spend the time hanging out, playing games, watching movies, and eating too much.
Sounds like Christmas.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]