This year, for the first time since 1987 I did not put up a tree or decorate.
In December 1987 we were in escrow for this house, finishing a kitchen remodel on the prior house, and everything we owned was in the process of being packed, boxed, or stored.
This year, I blame it on the kitten.
I was afraid to put up Pink and Sparkly! For sure, I thought, he would attack it and climb it and play vigorously with the breakable ornaments.
Then I thought I might buy a small tree, strongly tie it down somewhere, and put on only non-breakable decorations. I never got around to that.
I ended up with a wilted wreath, a foot-high shrub, and a Christmas tablecloth. Not so much anticipation.
But by golly, no post-Christmas let-down. That feels wonderful.
Meanwhile Kitten is attacking the computer screen as the cursor moves.
This year, I blame it on the kitten.
I was afraid to put up Pink and Sparkly! For sure, I thought, he would attack it and climb it and play vigorously with the breakable ornaments.
Then I thought I might buy a small tree, strongly tie it down somewhere, and put on only non-breakable decorations. I never got around to that.
I ended up with a wilted wreath, a foot-high shrub, and a Christmas tablecloth. Not so much anticipation.
But by golly, no post-Christmas let-down. That feels wonderful.
Meanwhile Kitten is attacking the computer screen as the cursor moves.
6 comments:
But wait, I put up hardly any Christmas decorations, and I still feel a let down. I think it's because as soon as the new year comes, it is time for me to think about paying taxes again.
I know, I hate the aftermath too, and therefore furiously clean for days...
I rescued a Angel tree from my mother's house about three years back. It was missing an angel. It takes me all of two minutes to set up. Next year I might add lights.... it's so not me that it takes people by surprise. Maybe I like that. This year I look at it and think of mom. At some point she loved it.
I have been frustrated with decorating for Christmas for a few years now --it just seems to become clutter, in our already too-cluttered living room. Lately, I've been yearning to have a house with a family room and living room --something I never understood the need for before.
Because of our kittens, we put the tree up very late. We had it up from about 12/23 to 1/2. The kittens certainly loved having it to hide behind, and batting the lower branches. We didn't hang any ornaments on the lowest branches. I think we took it down just in time, though --I'm pretty sure the last few times they were looking at it with thoughts of climbing :-)
I am always happy to put Christmas decorations away though --I love New Year's Day, and like to make everything clean for a fresh start.
Smaller can be so liberating. I've been doing that more and more and never feel disappointed. It's crazy how we can pressure ourselves for things, right?
I say, if it works for you, do it (or in this case, don't do it)!
When I've gone minimal (for purposes of babies, travel, and/or cats) I've always missed the cheerfulness of the decorations. The year I would have really liked to skip all of it, my kids were still young and dh was deployed, so not decorating would have been a sign of depression.
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