Adrenaline and exhaustion

Adrenaline and exhaustion

 

I don’t want to take the fall for bringing this up now, but it occurred to me an alternative title for this blog could be:  The Highs and Lows of Holiday.  Noticed lately it was not proper to say, “Christmas.”  Or some other specific reason in generic terms for celebrating at the end of the year, but I am not of that thinking.  Be cordial and down-right nice.  

 

 Say what you think others want to hear, bring a smile to their face, and let the cauldron of excitement for the occasion, bubble to the surface and find natural expression.  Publically funded and can’t say this or that in the Court House or  Food Court, and this is where politically correct takes a backseat to long standing tradition of people and places.

Speaking directly to the moment, and it is just one day until Christmas Eve and then following is Christmas.  Family and gatherings and rituals and this is what I think about.  Adrenaline and Exhaustion and the highs and lows of the holiday season, which began for some on Black Friday or near Thanksgiving.  And so it goes,  I have blocked all of this out.  Adventure in discipline and I have it going on.  Say, “Chanukah.” And prepare for a week of activity and celebration.  Next  on- to-say, “Ramadan.”

And well its just what it is, say:  “Happy New Year’s.  Did Alabama Win?”   Or something like that.  Line up and memorize the rules for what you can say and do in a public place and where public-funded-establishments are.  Two conflicting things going on:   Say what is on your mind, and don’t think about the consequences.  Thing 2:  Be political correct at all time, or bad things will happen to you.  Again this brings into play, adrenaline and exhaustion as you attempt to be in control of what happens next.

 

Holiday surprise and you wonder what that white powder is in the gift package you just opened.  Exhaustion and opioids and the most sought after present, and if I were to bet on it, I would have said, “I-Pad.”  But am thankful for the thoughtfulness of others.  White Power present, and with my puzzled look and not sure if I should call 911, California Auntie say, “No worries child.  Put it on your face.”   As if it was cosmetics and the problem was solved. Off to the bathroom and a few moments alone, is all I need to come back and ignore political correct and what others were saying.  Highs and Lows and here I am entering the High Part.  Thanks Auntie for the thoughtful present.

 

Not sure if I will ever master the art of political correctness, but over the years have seen others celebrating and am quite aware of the highs and lows of the holiday experience.  Once cause for worry, am beyond that now.  Have come up with a routine that makes me smile, when I stand in line for hours, waiting to get to the cashier, and when I do, the nice lady is smiling at me and says in melodic voice, “…but sir, your cart is currently empty, would you like to purchase some gum?”  Bittersweet when I repeat, “Now where did I put my wife, she has the other cart, which is full and I was just saving a place for her.”  The Cashier continues to smile as she says, “Too Bad.  NEXT.”

 

What can I do, but move on.  Go to the food court next and sit and stare at the long lines.  Exhausted and this might be the low point of the holidays for me, but won’t let surprise and the unknown stranger spoil my day, as I learn for the first time, first-hand consequences of the pick-pocket’s art, as the one behind had my wallet, before the conversation with the cashier started.  Crowded places and the requirement of shopping had me here, and I know:  Online Shopping.  More Better.

 

It should come to no surprise that shopping for an Adidas Original fashion shoe is on the list and am running out of time and patients as I go from place to place looking for this item.  Adrenaline rises as I get close, but then find out I am holding an Air Jordan 3  Retro and it’s the wrong color.  Hate it when things get so specific and it brings us to the climax of tears and wonder, about all the things we will do for the ones we love.  Love to shop and that isn’t exactly my thing, but go about the ritual best I can.  Throw money at the Salvation Army Canister and rush about before its realized that this is Canadian money and nobody in the mall will take it.  Exhaustion and it is not really the reason or prime source of snow on Christmas Day, but I am happy when the kids are rushing out and want to play with the new sled, and give me a moment of peace and quiet.

Breaks my heart when I think about Christmas Around The World, and how I worry about such things as political correct dialogue, when in other places at the same time, is a partial lunar eclipse and there is darkness all around.  And no snow.  Australia and is an example.  In Australia, Christmas comes towards the beginning of the summer holidays.  Children have the summer holidays from mid-December to early February.

 

In my mind December 25 is Christmas and around and about, and I am totally unaware how it is for others.  Am thinking maybe adrenaline and exhaustion is particular to only me, but then that is what you call, “ Taking the Narrow View.”   Only as I get older do I realize I am not the center of the universe.  My consciousness is limited, as I need to take speech lessons just to have a conversation on the Internet.  And etiquette lessons too.  He buys a sled and sends it to the relatives and children in Australia, only to find out there is no snow, and that it is summer, and the choice is simple:  throw the sled on the log fire and add to the celebration  as you chant a thank you and remember the ancestors and not so much the not-present-Uncle in America.

 

No laughing matter.  It happens.  Christmas and summer vacation as one.  Get the kids out of the house and spend money, but not in the way of commercialized America.  Not the same everywhere, and I must remind myself of this.  We are not all the same.  Diverse and Exquisite Difference prevail.   But what would I know about all that.  Stuck in mid-town Manhattan in a traffic jam.  Not going anywhere, anytime soon.  Am surrounded by DIY Christmas Lights and reflections,  bouncing off the windshield and off the storefronts.  Hit by the bigness of it,  realizing for perhaps the first time, that maybe I should have not sent the sled to the children in Australia.  But then again, I use my imagination and think with a few simple modifications it will make a great surf board.

 

Highs and lows of the holiday.  Period.  Perhaps, have said enough.  Politically  Correct and misspoken, in error and in drunkenness,  not quite the  life of the party.  Fun and Frenzy in the same package.  Surprise.  Surprise.  The white powder is not snow, and its not for me to rush to judgement or say all those things that can be displayed in the Food Court or other court as evidence about my conduct.  Long live the Queen.  Be responsible to the party that represents you. 

 

“Light up and show your true spirit.”  That is what they do in the village of Lobethal, South Australia in a picturesque range of high and low in the Adelaide Hills.  Christmas lights and then log fires and well,  as far as I can see:  smoke.  Reflections of a celebration and it’s a tradition.  Light Up.  Enjoy the moment.  And realize in each new place we go to celebrate the holidays, there is something new and improved, waiting for you.  New product and who knows what awaits you, as you take it all in and are consumed in so many ways best left to one’s imagination.

 

Exhausted now, is best to stop and smell the roses, look around for something amazing that can be viewed through large windows and storefronts.   Shopping and the Gala, and is okay to not dwell on the fact that Sears & Roebuck is going out of business, again and again, and Amazon is taking over.  Online and Digital and still the object and the goal is to take your money.  Or not, and just go back to that which is special, a quiet meal with friends and family and perhaps, a glass of ale, or wine or seltzer.  Consume what you will and then take a day or two to deal with the depression of highs and lows, and understand the long climb to Himalayan Peak and that all of this did not happen overnight.

 

Months and years and tradition.  So far we haven’t got over it.  We indulge and there are so many things we could say about that.  But won’t.  For reasons stated.  It is okay that you are hungover and standing near the fire or fire-place or where the stockings are hung, much like you are.  Drooping and about to call it a night.  Great celebration and will give praise to the host and hostess and all that get in my way, as I stumble and fall into the night, where to my surprise it is snowing.  Pure and Light and Cold.  Looking forward to summer if I am in Australia and looking forward to warmer days, if I happen to be in mid-town Manhattan, New York.  Not sure where I am.

Adrenaline and Exhaustion in a small package makes it possible for me to endure, and make my way into the snow-clad night and make my getaway, before it is noticed, he is bald and not wearing a hat, and surprise, surprise.  He has white powder on his nose.  But manages as Christmas becomes Hanukkah and he knows where he is going, to light things up and to pray for peace and for safety and for a good time.  He knows where to go.  And if he forgets, it is easy.  Just hail a taxi.