THE DAY AFTER
The Day After, and if I was in last year’s mode I would be thinking, this blog is about having a hangover, and for the record it is not about that at all. Before the new year of 2014, and I am happy to be in a festive mood, and positive in spirit. Day After Christmas, and am still resisting the material urge. Boxer Day up north, and not sure what people do? More shopping. Somebody will tell me. What’s going on, The Day After.
Its fun to hear what others have to say, both about the Christmas Day and experience they just had. And more so, what the day after looks like to them. One big headache. Not seeing that way for me, personally. Christmas for me is chill. Mostly I am happy others are doing their own thing, rituals and traditions. And regardless, because I am in a medium size city, and downtown I have the Christmas lights and decorations all around me. Walking Distance. And I know the day after, the decorations will begin to disappear, little by little and twinkle by twinkle in a child’s eye. Listening in on your private thoughts about The Day After. Is what this blog is about.
The day after Christmas and all they want to do is direct your attention to more sales. Everything is on sale. Come on down. Spend more money. And you would think by now, we have had enough of all that. But each to his own way of spending the day after. More time off from work, and so is that it? More shopping. Not for me, but for the rest of the world I wonder, what is the day like. Both Christmas Day and The Day After. And can say, its been awhile since I have allocated the time to sit down and blog. And it feels good.
Fog outside my window, so I can’t see too far. But know the people are out there, shopping. So am staying in for now. Later on, will take a walk and confirm my suspicions. They are out there, and its not alien to me. They are Out There. On the Space Station, they were working outside their protective environment. And if you have seen Sandra Bullock and the movie, Gravity, you have to be in pure amazement that there are people in space and Out There. Truly Amazed. I am. And that was yesterday. Christmas Day and making repairs on their Home away from Home. Now safe. And I pray for that. People on and off the planet, and is my true thought, "Be Safe."
I have a limit to what I can do on the Day-After. Based on capturing the experience and just knowing, that I was there, but I missed out on the details others capture so easily. Yesterday was Christmas. And for me, some of what this day means to you, was missing for me. Years of just being me and of course, am not complaining that I did miss out. More like, its such a busy time in my neighborhood, and the details of materialistic living pass me by. I live like a pauper, meaning that spending money and buying gifts is not usually what this time is about.
But I do like the holiday spirit and the lights and people everywhere, self-contained and knowing what happens next. Knowledge that comes over a lifetime of acquiring and wrapping gifts and sharing them with loved ones. And it never occurs to me, what Santa does the day after Christmas. But here I am. Talking about it. Christmas and The Day After. Talk to me.
So I am happy to have this time, sharing with you, details of now and yesterday. Haven’t been blogging much lately. Made a pledge to myself, about halfway into 2013. " Get A Life." And so I drifted off into free-port territory, no longer afraid to venture out and see what was Out There. And now I know. There were coffee shops open on Christmas Day. And where I live, there are many who go to Dim Sum Restaurants on Christmas Day, pickup chop sticks and eat Asian food. On Christmas Day.
Collecting memories of each Christmas and doing it in such a way, that each Christmas through the years is special and can be recalled. By the gifts shared and the people you spend time with. And what people do is important. Even if it has nothing to do with what you do. The Day After is a good time to reflect and cherish the day. The day we had, together or apart. Memories remain. One by one.
Deals and Discounts and did I mention that an ice storm left many without power throughout Canada and the U.S.A. And I can only imagine what happens in winter when people are trying to get together, and the power goes out. Stay At Home Dads. Flashbacks and the urgency to know, everybody is okay. No worries. And when its over, we ask: " How was Christmas and The Day After.
How are you?"
I spend time caring for a young man with mental health problems. He has no motivation. He was our only guest for the traditional Christmas dinner. He enjoyed it and was good company. Today he was again depressed. He is getting me depressed and I am going to tell him soon that I am stopping working with him. He will take it badly.
ReplyDeleteI mention this because I want you to know not everyone is out there spending and having fun. I have gone off the Christmas stupidity. But also it coincides with my choice to withdraw from most social contact. I have just had enough. This may be an unhealthy option but I don't think so. I have started to read, 'Travels with Epicurus' by Daniel Klein about the pleasures old age. Set on the Greek island of Hydra that I visited in 60s.
I always enjoy your blog.