I'm coming out of the closet
Yes, that's right, I'm taking a step out of the closet into the vast unknown. For those of you who know me, well, I mean really know me, this may not surprise you. But then again if you don't know me, the real me—and not very many people actually do—this may leave you scratching your head in wonder.For those of you who are frothing at the mouth thinking this is some sexual revolution that I'm going to reveal, get a life! I'm not talking about "that" closet, but the holiday closet that I live in. Yes, the merriment of the season is upon the majority for people and I'm just not one of them. Don't get me wrong, I love the Christmas season, but I prefer to celebrate it closer to Dec. 25. Let me explain more.
I think we all can agree the commercialization of the holidays has grown into a life of its own. Go into any department store mid-October and chances are there is an area of red and green decorations and pine trees already taking shape. Yes, the Christmas trees, ornaments, lawn decorations and dancing Santas playing Jingle Bell Rock fill the shelves. Come on; let's celebrate autumn first. I enjoy getting frightened for Halloween and sharing in the bounty of Thanksgiving. Then I'll worry about decorating for Christmas. But I'm not going to go festive before I feel the time is right.
In my house, my son is quite eager to put up the Christmas tree along with its myriad of decorations; however, I am not ready. Yes, I know the days are going fast until the jolly ol' man brings his sack of toys to good boys and girls, but still I'm not ready to ring in the yuletide spirit. Why? Because I want to enjoy the decorations, but it is really more than the artificial prickly pine packed with colored lights and ornaments and more than stockings hung with care and much more than the nativity scene.
But really, it is much more than just decorations. What is so wrong with not wanting to scream, "Merry Christmas!" at everyone you meet? Is it possible to simply celebrate the season without all the twinkling lights, silly carols and giddy merriment? Whatever happened to having the Christmas spirit in your heart and wanting to share it with others, but not just during certain months of the year? I don't need to run around singing Deck the Halls and Jingle Bells to spread Christmas cheer. Nor do I need to wear red and green socks and dangling jingle bell earrings. Maybe I just don't understand what Christmas really is. Or maybe I do, and it is everyone else who is caught up in the commercialization of the crazy season.
For me, Christmas is the emotion of everything that is good in this world. Call me strange if you will, but material things are just that—things. I don't need a bunch of things around the house to remind me that it is Christmas time. For some of us, Christmas is celebrated 365 days of the year, just not with bells and carols playing loudly.