Christmas

I know that it is post Christmas now, but too bad. You get Christmas today, because I'm already starting to miss it. It seems like the last few years there has been something missing with Christmas. I think mostly it's just that I'm oldish and so time flies faster, and life is different than it was, different responsibilities. But every year, I feel like I'm trying to find some way to engage with Christmas somehow and it always eludes me. Maybe it is just that I don't get to wake up in the morning and lay on the couch looking at the lights creating kaleidoscope stained glass pictures on the ceiling on Christmas morning, or maybe because I don't have the same family relationship as I once did. Or groups of people to go and carol with, or deliver Christmas packages to. I don't know. I haven't been alone this Christmas, not in the sense of being the only person in the room, and I actually did have a delightful Christmas. It just seems that there is something I'm trying to capture each year and missing out on. (I'm probably spending too much time trying to figure it out instead of just enjoying it!)

Anyway, I did have fun making goodies with my nieces and nephews, listening to Christmas music (missed out on some of the Christmas movies, but that's okay), picking presents, and such. I loved the lights, and the weather was nice enough to give us some snow for Christmas, which was thoughtful of it. Somehow snow at wintertime is always connected with a cold that makes you feel alive, at least in my mind.

I think what I really want is to have Christmas be about Christ. This shouldn't be as hard as it has been for me, and though I try, it has proven tricksy. So, even though Christmas is over, I'm thinking about next year, and how I can do things to try to remedy the situation. No concrete plans yet, but it is a great excuse to keep Christmas alive. Looks like the annual viewing of A Christmas Carol paid off--if all goes well, I will have the spirit of Christmas with me all year.

Little Things

I feel like this has been a doozy of a week, one of those weeks that has maybe got some of us thinking that the whole Mayan-Calendar-End-of-the-World thing isn't sounding as bad an option as it might. Sometimes the world just seems like such a bad, messed up place. But, this week, I had a chance to travel, and travel is always interesting because you are interacting with a bunch of new and different people and somehow, that changes things up a bit. Anyway, I just have been thinking this week of all the little things that I saw in conjunction with my traveling that made such a big impression, and in some cases, a big difference for me.

I always feel a bit like a country bumpkin when I travel, and much as I wish I could pull of sophisticated world traveler, it isn't in my repertoire yet. But every time I had a question, or needed help, people responded. And they responded in a way that said, "It's okay to not know that. You aren't weird or anything. I have questions like that all the time." A way that said, you are fine. That means a lot--we all need that reassurance sometimes. So the waitress who helped me figure out how to separate the bill, or the gal at the car rental place who found a way to connect, or the people I met with who helped me feel welcome, instead of intimidated all really made a daunting experience doable, and doable with enjoyment.

I also saw a lot of people doing little things around me. There was the TSA officer who, instead of criticizing a passenger for not having everything ready apologized for making him go through the whole routine. ID--not current, do you have current?--Oh, can you take it out of the plastic cover?--Sorry, I know it's a pain but it's the policy, good luck with everything. She didn't have to do that. A lot of people would have been impatient. And the thing is, I was a bit impatient with this guy, not knowing what was going on or anything, but as I listened, and saw her attitude, it changed my attitude. Clearly, there had been some kind of problem, and he had had to scramble to get it resolved, and at the end of the exchange, I just felt like I had been made better.

Or the guy who had to call his neighbor while shuttling from the car rental area to the airport. His neighbor's sheep had gotten through to his property, and his kids were trying to round them up. He didn't scream or yell. He didn't even raise his voice or sound stern. He just said, "I wanted you to know, and I know you are probably in the middle of something, and my kids are working on it. But I knew you'd want to know, and just when you get a chance. You know how sheep are!" And the neighbor heard they had a hunting permit and invited them to hunt on his land if they'd like. And at the end of the exchange, the guy's wife said (of the neighbor), "He's such a great guy." Again, I felt like my life had been made better for that one, brief experience. I know it was probably rude of me to listen, and if they are reading this, well, I know I should apologize, but mostly I want to say thank you. Thank you for just being good, because it's who you are. It was encouraging to know that there are a lot of good, decent, kind people out there, and that you don't have to look far to find them. So thank you for that.

And there were loads of other little things. People going beyond what their job required, or what society expects of them, and being good, and decent, and kind. Little tiny things, that maybe no one will notice. No one ever got recognition in the paper for being cheerful while doing their job. But I think it is these little things, more than the big things like fund raising concerts and Facebook donations, that give me hope. Because these little things show who people really are, day in and day out, not just when tragedy strikes, and knowing that there are those kind of people out there is what gives us hope to get through the tragedies.

So here's to all the little things that ordinary people do every day. That is what will change the world.

Life with a three-year old

I think I've mentioned before that I am currently in limbo (let it be noted that I am against limbo). Well, this has put me in residence with a very charming three-year old, and while there are four other charming kids in residence, they all go to school and so aren't home for most of the day and tend to not rely on me quite as much. So, to the other kids: I love you too, and I hope you forgive me for focusing on the little kid.

My day, as many of yours, includes breakfast at some point. Unlike yours, hopefully, my breakfast is almost always hijacked by Mr. 3. This kid is a masterful mooch, and his skill  has been improving of late. It started when he was one, and he's been honing ever since, to the point that he doesn't even do subtle anymore. One day, I turned and six inches from my face was a gaping three-year old mouth, just waiting for me to insert a spoonful of cereal. Hilariously adorable, and how do you say no to that? The real gem was when I was eating Lucky Charms, a particular favorite of his. After about two bites, he had commandeered the spoon and was graciously sharing my breakfast with me, generally when there weren't as many marshmallows in the mix. He's so thoughtful. 

My little buddy is also very big on helping me get ready for the day. On occasion, he has even chosen my outfits (with a little bit of carefully wielded influence). He gets my watch and my ring for me, and is always eager to help me with my belt (not sure why). He knows my get ready routine as well as I do. 

This kid loves stories, and he'll take them in any form. I know he knows how to count, but if you tell him, "Just one story" his mathematical skills are going to become non-existent and ten stories later (generally repeated readings of a few stories) you might finally convince him to do something else, provided you have a cool enough distraction. But he also likes to be told stories, and I have made up more stories on the spot than I can count over the last few months (some of which might actually have potential for written stories. Maybe). My favorite part is, when I finish telling him a made up story he says to me, "Will you read it again?"  

It amazes me how fast he is growing. More and more he wants to do things by himself. He can button his pajama shirt, and pour the cereal (this is a new in for mooching), he's figuring out the mouse on my laptop (this is dangerous), and a host of other things. Everyday, it's something new. Try asking him if he's a big boy, though, and this is the answer you'll get. "No, I'm just a little boy." "When will you be a big boy?" "Um, two o'clock, I think." He will then analyze your watch, watching the second hand go around, and declare it two o'clock at some point.

I don't know about other three-year olds, but this one is a phenomenal hugger. Something about his size is just perfect for hugging. I told him yesterday that hugging was his super power, and he went around the rest of the day giving everyone giant hugs. We call him Superhugger, and I tell you, it is a real super power. Flying and X-ray vision and all that may be great, but I don't know if they can compete with hugging. That is a power that can change the world.

So, there you have it. Life with a three-year old. Personally, I think everyone should have one. It would definitely make the world a better place.