I am fairly anti-social. I’ve admitted previously. I try to be a man for the people, just not of them.
A decade divorced, working a lot and parenting even more will help focus ones prioritize. Many things moved toward the forefront. Socialization was never one of them.
That being said, even I’m being stretched to my limits with all things pandemic, pandemic restrictions, etc.
The one time of the year I actually enjoy being social, enjoy the public and being out in it, is the holiday season.
Christmas is my time of year, always has been. My German-heritage mother saw to that. In our house we started decking those halls early. Usually that started the day after Thanksgiving; occasionally, before.
Family gatherings were numerous and exciting. Cookies were baked throughout the month. No detailed was spared.
Sadly, she’s no longer with us, going on 15 years now this month. Other family members have been called home since and each year, the gatherings are less and less.
But Christmastime was never affected by such growing apart. It was immune. For me, it was the one time a year I could get in all the socialization and merriment for another year of drudgery and determination.
Now, we can’t even have that. Can you feel my excitement? Believe me, I’ve noticed yours.
But as in all things in life, we make do. We keep to the few traditions we still can, and we make new ones, adapting on the fly as necessary.
In all honesty, I live my life by the philosophy of “wing it” anyway, so in this, I am and should be well rehearsed.
A Digital Substitute
I have relatives I am extremely close to living near Cleveland. The family get-together on Christmas Eve was always the most looked-forward-to night of the year. As my generation grew up and had kids of its own, that party moved to the weekend before Christmas.
This allowed everyone to still get together while maintaining those Christmas Eve and Day traditions with our own growing families.
But this year, it doesn’t look like that even is going to happen. It’s understandable. We’re not all young anymore. Some of us are immuno-compromised. So, the consensus is to play it safe.
We have managed to find one way to keep in contact, albeit digitally, and still enjoy a good evening of revelry. In that, thank you JackBox.tv.
My cousins purchased access to this digital game set and via the Zoom platform which we’ve all come to “grow and love,” we’re able to communicate and compete against one another.
We’ve done this a number of times throughout the year and last weekend was no different. But given the month and increasingly close proximity to Christmas, it took on a little more meaning than normal.
This, and perhaps another close to the 25th, will likely serve as our holiday gathering substitute.
It’s not the same. But, in true me fashion, I managed to get in a few quasi-ignorant, humorous responses to illicit some laughter. Digital or not, some things never change.
Controlling What You Can
For my immediate side of the family this year, it may just be me and the kiddo come Christmas Eve, and that’s okay too.
We’ve continued the tradition of baking cookies throughout the month. Our tree is lit. The stockings will soon be hung (no chimney here unfortunately, but the entertainment center works).
Christmas music plays throughout the house thanks to a couple well-positioned Echo Dots and the Christmas Classics station. Thanks, Amazon.
We even had our yearly St. Nicholas Day celebration. As my daughter has grown older, it’s not quite as “magical” as it used to be. You other parents of aging children know what I mean.
But it’s still fun to see her open a few presents that St. Nicholas left in the boot. It’s a nice precursor to the festivities that follow that in a few weeks.
Even then, adjustments will be made. I’m not sure if my dad’s brother is having his annual holiday get together either, but if so, it’s a chance to see some of the family.
Either way, we’ll dress up, head to midnight mass and then retire at the house, ready to awake Christmas morning.
And for a few magical hours, all will be right with the world again.
