with June Rollins
The Little Known Secret To Happy Holidays
Well, here it is again. Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sometimes I wonder why the two most action-packed, emotionally charged holidays with the highest expectations in our country come back to back.
But rather than trying to figure it out, the better solution would be to start preparing for it in July like some folks I know. I should have spent the last 6 months making whatnots to give to all of the relatives, putting away homemade jams and jellies from summer fruits, knitting afghans for each of the children and taking advantage of anything on sale that anyone might want.
Then the trick would be to remember where I hid my Christmas stash come December. Oh, and I would make sure I had a few extra generic gifts in un-labeled gift bags to give to whoever I forgot who didn’t forget me and rings my doorbell just when the turkey needs to come out of the oven.
Or, I could just nix the whole gift-giving idea on the premise the holidays have become too commercial and give a donation to the recipient’s favorite charity. My husband, the preacher, was so bold last year as to encourage his congregation to limit gift giving to their children to three gifts per child. Where upon one child told him he had ruined her Christmas. She was in her early twenties.
But, for those of us who the holiday season has snuck up on as if it had never happened before, it’s too late to pre-bake, pre-make, pre-shop, pre-wrap and pre-pare. We will once again put on our best faces and put forth our best last minute efforts to make a good Thanksgiving and a good Christmas. Won’t we?
This re-occurring phenomenon does prove one theory though; ignoring a situation that requires attention is not a good plan. Unless we fly to New Zealand for the entire month of December, which one of my art students did last year, our culture won’t let us ignore Christmas. I remember how I imagined hopping on the plane with her. I wonder if she is going again this year. And I wonder if…
Okay, back to reality. Odds are, travel to a foreign country is out of the question, but there is always, “being a little under the weather.” We might be able to feign sickness over Thanksgiving. But the same excuse a month later? C’mon. The family might begin to wonder.
And speaking of the family: Hats off to young parents with infants and toddlers who have the courage to break tradition and tell their parents, “We won’t be packing up everything but the kitchen sink and driving the x-number of miles to your house this year. It’s just too hard on us and the children.” And even more points for those grandparents on the receiving end of the above announcement who are gracious and understanding and don’t lay guilt trips.
Think of it this way. They can visit during the summer, when the little darlings can romp around outside and you won’t have to childproof every room in your house. And unless you bought their gifts in July before they told you they wouldn’t be coming for Christmas, ask them the name of their favorite charity, then use the rest of the money and go to New Zealand. I hear it’s a great place to be in December.
Yes, the holidays are fast upon us. We are at their mercy. And for those of us who aren’t ready and for those of us who just appear ready, there may be only one thing left to do to help get us through the season intact. When all else fails, call on Jesus.
This is all for Him anyway, isn’t it.
Isn’t it?
 Letting Go"
(Setting is in Lexington)
Received First Place in Stanly County Summer Art Explosion Exhibit. The judge’s, comments: "The varied and subtle texture draws the viewer into this painting. The abstract treatment
of the window panes adds a
sense of the mystical to the
reality of the scene."
Thank you June, for sharing your talent with Yadkin Valley Living
readers.
Visit June's website to view her art gallery at www.artbyjune.net
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