Monday, December 17, 2012

A Charlie Brown Christmas...

This year, I am really looking forward to Christmas. For some strange reason, which I cannot explain, I have very good feelings about it.  Sometimes life does a paradigm shift and gives us new beginnings.  To me, that is the true meaning of Christmas.  The year winds down, the long dark, days begin to get brighter, I turn another year older (*sigh*), but it's all good.

When I was a teenager, I fell in love with the writings of W. Somerset Maugham.  There was no other writer -- except, perhaps, John Steinbeck -- who understood so much about the human condition.  One of my favourite Maugham quotes:  "It's a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it."

Of course, he also said, "If you want to eat well in England, eat three breakfasts".

January may bring some changes for me on the work front.  The irons are still in the fire...  But I am enjoying getting ready for Christmas.  I love buying things for people, and I'm having fun wrapping their gifts.

"Oh, I can hardly wait until they open that...  I'm sure they will love that....  I hope they enjoy that..."

When I was a little kid I could hardly wait to see what I was going to get for Christmas.  Now I enjoy with equal pleasure giving Christmas presents to other people.

Eight seven six more sleeps...!

7 comments:

VioletSky said...

I also enjoy choosing the perfect present for people.
And Somerset Maugham is a great favourite of mine.I recently found a lovely two volume set of all his works in an antique store and treated myself to an early Christmas present. It still took me weeks to get rid of the worn and tattered second hand editions of his novels and short stories!
Best Wishes for the changes afoot.

DJan said...

I too send wishes that the coming year and new season will bring all you desire, Jo. I don't feel much different about Christmas from year to year, now that I'm an adult and don't have any little ones to buy for.

Sextant said...

I agree with your first paragraph, I always look forward to Christmas. It puts a different spin on life, for a bit. Maybe allows us to see what is important in life.

Hope your Christmas is very merry, and the New Year brings you new opportunities.

BTW,

Seasons Greetings, Jo!

Linda Myers said...

So glad this Christmas is a good one for you. I like the lights, the candles, the gatherings with family and friends, the waiting for the light to return.

This year I asked our children to take the tree ornaments they wanted - the ones with a memory for them. Two dozen ornaments went out the door to new homes, for the creation of new memories!

Em Parkinson said...

I can't remember when the switch from excitement at receiving to that for giving took place. Perhaps there was a long cross over from teens until having a child. I'm really looking forward to it this year too. Hope you have a wonderful, wonderful time Jo. x

Dr. Kathy McCoy said...

It's so true, Jo, that as we grow, giving is even more fun than receiving. May your Christmas be truly merry and blessed and may all those irons in the fire make your wishes come true in the New Year!

Russell said...

I enjoy the quote from Somerset Maugham.

The Charlie Brown Christmas Special is, by far, my favourite of all the Christmas shows.

Even at that time commercialism was overtaking Christmas. Of course today it is just much, much more than when the Charlie Brown special was first aired.

As the expression goes, the real joy is in the receiving ... uh, wait a moment .... heh!

Or is it "only by giving can you receive" and we all like to receive! Something like that, heh?!