It Is Crazy, Chaotic, Tiring, Busy And Loud: It Is The Holiday Season! Why Do We Do This?
Posted: Tuesday, November 29, 2011
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
Even though the night before, I swore I would not be caught shopping on Black Friday, I find myself in my daughter Cherise’s SUV at Wiregrass Mall. People are driving up and down the parking aisles.
Cherise rolls down her window. “Excuse me, where are you parked?”
“I’m at the other side of the mall,” a young girl clad in shorts replies.
“Mom, did you have to do that?” Mikaela, Cherise’s teen daughter asked, as she slumps down in the back seat.
“It’s not rude, Mikaela. Besides, no one here knows us, so what is the difference?”
Within minutes, we succumb to the Valet Parking.
We are to meet my other daughters, Julie and Jamie at Barnes and Noble. While the others sip on their Latte’s from Starbucks, I sneak away to pay for a Starbuck’s Christmas Drink Holder and a gift certificate, as a late birthday present for Cherise. She sees me standing in line, as she is ascending on the escalator. I get out of the long line to run and tell her where I am and that she is not answering her cell. Then I go back to the end of the line and wait.
It is crazy; it is chaotic; it is crowded and loud, but amazingly, even though I am very tired from Thanksgiving cooking, I am in a great mood. It’s all good. I am with my children and grandchildren.
As we sit on the patio of an Italian restaurant, I tell my daughters (3) and teen granddaughters (2) why I am in a good frame of mind. I tell them that I decided to have fun this year and not be like a combination of “Mr.
Clean” and a left-over Halloween witch. They all agree with me that this should be a fun time.
I look around at each smiling face and think maybe I could write a book about grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters and tell all my readers how wonderful it is. I am old but today it is ok to be old, I am enjoying myself, as I watch my daughters in their mothering mode and granddaughters clutching packages that have been bought with love and probably some sacrificing. Julie, my oldest daughter tells the waiter to put my lunch on her tab. I thank her.
We decide to hit Macy’s before going home. We are there for a long time, as the sales are good. I tell Jamie she should buy herself something new for her new job and that she deserves it. She does and so do I.
I decide to sit outside while the others are exploring a couple of teen shops. I think about the day before and how wild it got the last few minutes before Thanksgiving Dinner was served. Everyone was standing around the island, keeping me company, while I furiously pulled everything out of the oven. Jim was carving the turkey. Just as I was retrieving the last casserole (sweet potatoes), it slipped from my hand and suddenly my floor was decorated with sweet potatoes. The dogs at once came to feast, while Jamie scooped everything up and reminded me that we have a spare sweet potato casserole.
On the way home, I telephone Jim and ask him to put the spare huge squash casserole in the oven, along with the other Thanksgiving goodies. We delight in another meal together, even though we are so tired. We listen to Zach, Scott and Jim talk about what a great time they had playing golf.
The next day, I am so tired, I can hardly get out of bed, but when I hear Cherise’s voice and know she is still here, I perk up. I can make it for another day.
At mid-morning, my daughter gathers up her children and new puppy, Kiera and heads back to West Palm Beach.
I survey more dirty dishes and at least 8 loads of laundry to do. I am suddenly exhausted, so I go in our bedroom for a nap. I see that Kiera has christened the carpet and also left a “gift” in the closet. Why do I put myself through this every year? It is crazy, chaotic, tiring, and we eat too much.
Then, in the quietness of a pre-nap stupor, I know why I did it and I would do it again and again….
It comes every near and will go on forever. And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs. Those humble, everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart."
~ Marjorie Holmes, American writer..
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
Cherise rolls down her window. “Excuse me, where are you parked?”
“I’m at the other side of the mall,” a young girl clad in shorts replies.
“Mom, did you have to do that?” Mikaela, Cherise’s teen daughter asked, as she slumps down in the back seat.
“It’s not rude, Mikaela. Besides, no one here knows us, so what is the difference?”
Within minutes, we succumb to the Valet Parking.
We are to meet my other daughters, Julie and Jamie at Barnes and Noble. While the others sip on their Latte’s from Starbucks, I sneak away to pay for a Starbuck’s Christmas Drink Holder and a gift certificate, as a late birthday present for Cherise. She sees me standing in line, as she is ascending on the escalator. I get out of the long line to run and tell her where I am and that she is not answering her cell. Then I go back to the end of the line and wait.
It is crazy; it is chaotic; it is crowded and loud, but amazingly, even though I am very tired from Thanksgiving cooking, I am in a great mood. It’s all good. I am with my children and grandchildren.
As we sit on the patio of an Italian restaurant, I tell my daughters (3) and teen granddaughters (2) why I am in a good frame of mind. I tell them that I decided to have fun this year and not be like a combination of “Mr.
“I am old but today it is ok to be old, I am enjoying myself, as I watch
my daughters in their mothering mode and granddaughters clutching
packages that have been bought with love and probably some sacrificing.”
I look around at each smiling face and think maybe I could write a book about grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters and tell all my readers how wonderful it is. I am old but today it is ok to be old, I am enjoying myself, as I watch my daughters in their mothering mode and granddaughters clutching packages that have been bought with love and probably some sacrificing. Julie, my oldest daughter tells the waiter to put my lunch on her tab. I thank her.
We decide to hit Macy’s before going home. We are there for a long time, as the sales are good. I tell Jamie she should buy herself something new for her new job and that she deserves it. She does and so do I.
I decide to sit outside while the others are exploring a couple of teen shops. I think about the day before and how wild it got the last few minutes before Thanksgiving Dinner was served. Everyone was standing around the island, keeping me company, while I furiously pulled everything out of the oven. Jim was carving the turkey. Just as I was retrieving the last casserole (sweet potatoes), it slipped from my hand and suddenly my floor was decorated with sweet potatoes. The dogs at once came to feast, while Jamie scooped everything up and reminded me that we have a spare sweet potato casserole.
On the way home, I telephone Jim and ask him to put the spare huge squash casserole in the oven, along with the other Thanksgiving goodies. We delight in another meal together, even though we are so tired. We listen to Zach, Scott and Jim talk about what a great time they had playing golf.
The next day, I am so tired, I can hardly get out of bed, but when I hear Cherise’s voice and know she is still here, I perk up. I can make it for another day.
At mid-morning, my daughter gathers up her children and new puppy, Kiera and heads back to West Palm Beach.
I survey more dirty dishes and at least 8 loads of laundry to do. I am suddenly exhausted, so I go in our bedroom for a nap. I see that Kiera has christened the carpet and also left a “gift” in the closet. Why do I put myself through this every year? It is crazy, chaotic, tiring, and we eat too much.
Then, in the quietness of a pre-nap stupor, I know why I did it and I would do it again and again….
It comes every near and will go on forever. And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs. Those humble, everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders, like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart."
~ Marjorie Holmes, American writer..
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)Part of it sounds like me, Fran. It's ok to be old today makes me laugh. Very enjoyable indeed such is life.Yes, Hilda, we have to laugh at ourselves and even face getting old, but with humor! Thanks for your comment. You are always so much fun and so sweet!
Wonderful, Fran! Thanks so much.It was fun to write this article - thanks for your comment.
Thank you so much for the reminder of why we do this every year. Wonderful article.My pleasure, Elle. May you have the the best holiday ever!
We do this every year and, frankly, would we have it otherwise? The alternative isn't pretty either. I just think we've gone a bit overboard and need to rein in a little. Loved your article and hope you have ANOTHER FABULOUS CHRISTMAS.
PS. I'm making it a point to say it because first, to me, it is Christmas and then I can say have a great holiday season too.
Love your articles.I agree. To me, Christmas is first, then Happy Holidays.
I miss talking to you. I dropped out for a while because of some things that happened. Now my numbers are low, but the number think doesn't mean anything to me, anymore.
Christmas is a little over the top (the commercial side). Jim and I have cut way down on gifts, so we hardly buy anything. As for Thanksgiving, I love my family and love cooking for them, but I would have loved even more serving food for homeless people, etc. Seems like I have too much "good things" and need to share but my family would never understand this.
Merry Christmas!When my mother was still alive, she would not have understood either. I mean, it's possible to do both. Our dinner is always at 1 p.m. That's way before they serve the dinners for the less fortunate people. It might just be possible to rearrange your schedule. You might even pursuade some of the family members to help. Tell them you'd like it as your Christmas present and that it would make you feel so much better than another bangle. There you go. Try it
I missed you and actually posted if anyone knew where Fran was and was Fran OK. Not one person said anything. I then thought you put your efforts into the"E". But deep down I thought something must have crossed you some way. I'm glad you're back.
My numbers are down too. I can't spend the time I need to spend on writing and get other things done. I've been writing things here and there and even though I've got some things written, I'm still having more trouble setting things down on paper. The last article I wrote is one of my worst. I decided to publish anyway. Let the chips fall. When I put out what I consider a really good article, it doesn't do any better than the ones that aren't tops anyway
Well, glad you're back! You can always count on me to be there for you.
Just did something I've never done before. When notification hit my email, I hit reply and sent it that way. Duh. So I copied it and pasted it in above. That was auto pilot gone wrong. Chuckle!
Fran this is such a beautiful and inspiring piece, written straight from the heart. Funny and so moving...Thanks, Jennifer. I had so much fun with my daughters and granddaughters. It seemed like magic, even through the chaos and stress!
And that, in a nutshell, is exactly why I dread and dislike the Holiday Season Fran- I'm extremely uncomfortable in a crazy, chaotic, tiring and loud atmosphere, so try to avoid it when I can. I enjoy the peaceful times...but realize that the price I must pay for thses times, is the endurance of the crazy chaotic loud and tiring. It's a challenge and a job for me- one that I'm not always up to doing. Good Holiday article- got from it what I think you meant for the reader to get- Thanks- Always- EllaElla, the last few years I have dreaded Christmas, but I am trying to "not" dread it now. Ho Ho Ho! It's too commercial!
Thanks so much, Ella.
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