IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Okay, so I know I've been even angrier and bitchier than usual on this blog lately. It's gotten so bad that Maringuy even suggested I need a hug, and another new reader e-mailed me to tell me she "liked my anger." While I'm always one for basking in compliments, I thought it interesting that her comment wasn't "I like your writing" or "I like your humor" or "I like your blog" but "I like your ANGER."

I should mention, for the record, that I have not kicked any puppies or ripped anyone's head off recently. One of the reasons I love blogging is it allows me to let some angst out through my writing so I can go through my day WITHOUT being angry and slamming someone's head into the wall. With blogging, I just WRITE about slamming their head into a wall and bask in the fantasy. I especially like the part, by the way, when the guy's eyes roll into the back of his head after the satisfying THWAK sound of his noggin contacting the dry wall. Yah ... that's COOL :)

But I have to admit that my writing HAS been angrier than normal lately. I don't know if it is the holidays, which seem to get more stressful each year. I don't know if it is just that I have been incredibly tired from a very full year and just don't want to deal with all this holiday shit. Or maybe I'm just feeling more open to writing about my darker, angrier thoughts.

But there's something to be said about embracing your lighter, shinier, happier side too and not dwelling on the negative. Besides, I need to do SOMETHING to get me out of my Christmas funk, or everyone's going to be getting IOUs and expired Applebee's coupons this year.

So here it is ... Cookie's Top 10 things she actually LIKES about Christmas (in no particular order). I think I can actually feel my heart grow a size or two from writing this ... then again, that may just be my acid reflux flaring up.

10. Christmas movies. As much as the season can irritate me, there are some things about it I like. Namely, "It's a Wonderful Life," "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "The Grinch." I know ... shocking, isn't it, that I would get all excited about such things? But  who can be grumpy at Jimmy Stewart? And funny dogs ... namely Snoopy and that poor damned dog with the antlers strapped to his head pulling the Grinch's sled ... somehow make all the commercial bull-shit of the season not seem so bad. OR they just make you laugh ... and that's always good.

9. My company Christmas party. Normally work parties suck. But I love getting dressed up once a year with my husband and hanging out with my friends from work in a beautiful setting with decorations and buffet tables. It gets me into the spirit, even when my spirit has to be drug in kicking and screaming. Not to mention my husband looks FINE in a suit. And let's not forget the open bar, and the inevitable drunk idiot who makes a complete fool of themselves, seemingly oblivious they are dirty dancing in front of their boss. That's just good entertainment right there.

8. My mother's Christmas wreath. Every year, my mom sends us a real Christmas wreath to hang on our door, made out of real pine trees. Since we have a fake tree, the wreath helps our house smell like Christmas. I look forward to getting it every year, because it has become part of our tradition and makes me feel like I'm sharing a Christmas moment with my mom, even though we are two states apart.

7. Days off work. Oh common .. don't pretend this isn't one of your favorites too. In the month and a half that marks the holiday season, I get FOUR DAYS OFF ... Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. The rest of the year I get just three more. Even someone like me, who loves her job, can't argue that it's nice to have a reprieve.

6. Hearing from people I miss. I know I made fun of the "Christmas form letter" in my previous blog, and I stand by that rant. But there are also friends who reconnect with me over the holidays that I genuinely love to hear from and who I realize will always be important to me. And they usually reconnect with a personal e-mail, note or cookies, which is a lot better than that stupid form letter! I'm glad they continue to not give up on me!

5. Buying a really good gift. Sure, receiving a good gift is fun, but it's definitely not as fun as when you have that moment of shopping nirvana and find that PERFECT item for that special someone. And the anticipation of giving it to them and the moment when they open it and realize that you REALLY thought about EXACTLY what they would like? .... PRICELESS!

4. Remembering past holidays. You can't help but think about Christmases past when this year's season roll around. Luckily, I have good past memories. My favorites? The last year when my dad was alive, when I got my first stereo, and my first Billy Joel ALBUM (it was Turnstiles, by the way)! The first year I had enough money to buy my family REALLY cool presents. The years my nephew and nieces were little and were so fun to watch open gifts. Good stuff :)

3. FOOD! As much as I like to complain about my waistline and my lack of will power, I love the Christmas goodies that come out this time of year. Everyone at work brings in their favorite Christmas cookies or treats to share, which allows me a glimpse into some of their holiday traditions. Then I get to go to my mom's and eat her homemade bread and chocolate covered bon-bons, which are better than heroin, by the way. And let's not forget the main course Christmas Eve night ... PRIME RIB! I'd like to thank all the very tasty cows that have allowed me some incredibly great holiday meals. This moo's for you.

2. Holiday lights. While I hate putting up my own Christmas lights, I love seeing what other people do for the holidays and appreciate their work. Our neighbor's house down the street, for example, can be seen from the moon. I'm pretty sure he had to start last Easter to get it all set up, and every time I look at it I see something new. It gives our whole block a lift, and takes the attention away from the yards with the broken gnomes and stolen cars in them.

1. Spending time with family. Yah, I know it's trite. But I like building my own holiday traditions with my husband, as well as visiting my family and keeping alive old traditions. And while I complain about visiting my family every year because I'm always the one (because I'm the only one who moved away) who has to fly during the holidays and go over a mountain pass to see everyone, it is nice that we can all be together, as so many families can't be. With all my bitching and moaning, I'm actually very lucky. I'll try to remember that the next time I have the urge to kick the crap out of the Santa at the mall.

Comments

[Kath]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the overabundance of lights....colored...white..sparkly...twinkly. Wish they'd stay lit all year. Am actually thinking of putting white lights on my front porch for all year around.

But? That Jimmy Stewart movie? I hate it. Loathe it. Most depressing movie I've ever seen. But that's just me.