Dec 16 2008
A non-snow bunny’s thoughts on Christmas
What does a non-snow bunny do in the midst of snow and cold weather? Thank god she has a computer. I want to hybernate until April or May. Cold does not ignite my inner child to do snow angels or for me to jump on a snow mobile and do wheelies through corn fields. This non-snow bunny cranks out articles and blogs like there is no tomorrow. I can roll up in my afgan and write about how to make snickerdoodles or how to be romantic all in the warm, cozy comfort of my room. I don’t even have to get dresses if I don’t want to. Oops, that may have been too much information.
The true goal of living through winter in Idaho for me is to not fall victim to a deep,dark depression like those that have plagued me in past years. One that creeps in like a icy horror and grabs you unaware. The body aches begin and negativity abounds. I don’t care if I get up and meet the day or not. The strength of years of experience keeps me from falling into that but not always by much. No blue christmas for this girl!
Music is a great depression deterrent. I visit all the old favorites such as In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Janis Joplin. The Eagles and The Who. The deep seated rock and vains of jazz that run through it like a river of sweet vibrating sound that brings the mood up and puts me in a place where I can move on into the day and generate work and interact with my family and friends.
Those old movies keep me coming back every year. I love to see White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye. Dear Danny. He is so good at playing the injured war vet when they are trying to keep their old Army general from catching his favorite tv show is classic. And then there is The Bishop’s Wife with Loretta Young and Cary Grant. Cary as an angel, isn’t that a hoot? He is a dear that enchants all the women and leaves the men wondering what just happened. The scene when David Kniven gets stuck in the newly varnished chair is halarious. It is not Four Christmases but it has all the funny absurbness of some of the newer ones. They shouldn’t be missed.
The old classic carols like Deck The Halls and The Little Drummer Boy still do my heart good. You hear them every where you go. You turn on the radio and hear some country and western singer singing about loving it up at christmas time. My favorites are the old classics though. O’ Little Town of Bethlehem and The Twelve Days of Christmas. They make me happy and lift my mood. But I can’t do without hearing Nat King Cole’s the Christmas Song.
And what about the smells of Christmas? Scented candles and pine tree needle smells and cookies baking. And all the pies. Pecan and pumpkin, apple and mincemeat. Isn’t that one of the greatest parts of Christmas?
All these things added together make for a great time of year. The feeling of good will and sparkling undergrowth of happiness and love that runs through the days is addicting. It makes you look forward to the next year and its adventures. It is too bad we can’t all keep some of this good feeling throughout the rest of the year.
I hear ya with not liking the winter. Where I’m from, it doesn’t snow like it used to but just enough to make driving miserable. If I could work from home more often, that would be great. I like to take walks but that’s no fun when you’re freezing and when it gets dark early.