I have a lot to be grateful for this year.
Even though there are far less Christmas presents in the living room than last year.
Even though there isn’t a single decoration, save for the few Christmas cards we received, because more than half the stuff we own is packed away in storage or at my mom’s house, as the house we live in is already bursting at the seams. There is no Christmas tree, no wreath, no lights, not even a Christmas mug.
Even though I lost my job and our savings for a down payment on a house are not growing as quickly as I’d like.
Even though I’m worried that my appointment in January isn’t going to go as planned, and we won’t, after all, be trying to get pregnant soon.
Over the last few days I’ve been rereading and editing my old blogs with an eye to reposting them here. Today I read the blog I wrote on Christmas Eve last year, when I was still the parish secretary at my Church. It was 6 pm and I was already 10 hours into a 14 hour work day. Worrying that my brand new in-laws were secretly angry that I was ruining the way they usually did Christmas.
Today I’m grateful that I’m not working, that I’m sitting in my house that is nice and warm with the rent all paid. I’m grateful that we don’t have to brave the weather to drive to visit family – that it will be just me and Jerrad having a quiet Christmas at home. We get to spend today, and tomorrow, watching Christmas movies cuddled up on the couch drinking hot buttered rum.
I’m grateful that although we do have enough money to rush out to the store and buy something fancy to make for Christmas dinner, we’re content to just make one of our favorite dishes with the fixings already in the freezer and the cupboards, or just eat the leftovers in our fridge. We already got to have a Christmas with my mom, with the tree and decorations and presents and big delicious dinner.
I’m grateful that this is my blog, where I don’t have to be politically correct*. Where I can say that I am grateful to be having a Christmas that is really about what Christmas is to me – the day my Savior was born.
God bless us, everyone.
PS. Don’t worry, tomorrow or the next day, the Cathy you know and love will be back bitching about the Christmas Catholics clogging up the parking lot and sitting in my fucking goshdarn pew.
*but, officially, for the record, I do wish you a Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or a plain old Happy Holidays for all the atheists out there. I’ll pray for you**.
**sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Merry Christmas, Cathy! And, no need to pray for me, I’m good on that
, seein’ as how I’m already of the chosen people who fasts one day a year and prays for the souls and forgiveness of transgressions of humankind. Well, since I pray for you each year, I suppose I’ll let you pray for me, too.
Have a wonderful, wonderful time with your fambly, eatin’, drinkin’ and watchin’ movies.
L’chaim!
One day a year? You’re lucky! We have to fast two days a year.
and thanks – you too
Um, yeah… I think I’d actually prefer you DIDN’T pray for me. I don’t want to go to heaven – I want to go where all my friends will be. Well, minus you.
I don’t think I could pray enough to save you… I think it’s too late for you, my dear