EVERY year I swear to myself and my family that “next year” I’m going to take December off. I’ll be caught up and I can trim the Christmas tree with the family, go shopping and stroll through the malls, bake Christmas cookies . . . well, you get it the idea. (No, I won’t be signing Christmas Carols, I’ve got a serious tin ear.) The point is, I had plan to be ahead of the game. And every year, I’m behind, a deadline looms, copy edits are due, I’m working on a new idea or whatever. The job takes precedent. Everyone understands. But another year passes and everyone gets older.
This year I thought I was good to go. I was already doing some shopping in August. (Talk about a head of the game!) And last year I did put up tons of outdoor lights, so I had the right strands; I could start right after Halloween. Even though the ancient willow tree had fallen down in a storm. If not the bare branches of the willow, I can light up the fence, right? As for my fall deadline, it would be long over . . .
Yeah, right.
What I hadn’t anticipated was the frailty of health. My family went through some serious issues that kept me from staying ahead of the game work wise. So, once again, I find myself racing to catch up for the holidays. As I write this my mind is on revisions that are due this week. Once they’re finished, the copy edited manuscript will return here and then the page proofs. Maybe not all before the New Year, but potential enough to keep me from doing too much fa-la-la-la-la-ing. And isn’t Thanksgiving in what, a week or two? I’ve already seen a kabillion Christmas ads on TV. Seems like the retailers would really like my money again this year. I’m so far behind, I don’t know what the new “it” item is. Do I have to stand in line for a WII, or XBox, or Cabbage Patch doll this year? Please, someone, clue me in!
My solution for being behind is being ahead. (Really far ahead–like 11 months worth!) I’m keeping my Halloween decorations up! That’s right, I’ve got the creepy plastic tree on the shelf, two skulls, purple and orange candles and a string of weird cat lights strung over my kitchen window. There’s also the Haunted Hotel sign near the front door and another one inside announcing in flashing neon that “The Witch Is In.” I even picked up a poster for a quarter at the grocery store and got a really good deal on some “Boo” napkins. Since I missed Halloween because of some of those same old health issues, I figure Thanksgiving is fair game. I’ve never been a fan pinecone turkeys or dried corn or paper Pilgrim hats anyway. The skulls stay!
I’ll cook the traditional meal, of course, but we might just have tiny Snickers bars for dessert instead of pumpkin pie. Sound good? I think so. Finally maybe, I’ll be caught up enough to celebrate Christmas on December 25th. Fa-la-la-la-la!
Lisa Jackson
http://www.lisajackson.com
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With our family spread out and usually unable to travel for holidays, we’ve become very fast and loose with when we celebrate. This year, amazingly enough, DD will be nearby, staying with her inlaws for Thanksgiving, so I get to be a guest at someone else’s celebration.
We celebrate the occasion, not the date, more often than not. This started when hubby was always away for business on my birthday. I figured I didn’t need to count the years he wasn’t home on “the day” so I’m a heck of a lot younger!
We’re going to Colorado for our grandson’s second birthday – but with schedules and prices, we’re actually going to be there the week before. But that coincides with Hanukkah, so we can do a little celebrating as family, something that rarely happens.
This year, even though I’m not working a business gig, I feel like I’m more behind than ever. I think it is due to the writing taking off, a happy situation.
I love having too many opps, loved ones, buddies… Yes, being busy is challenging but NOT being busy is… well… sad.
Just plop a couple of Santa hats onto the skulls – you’ll be fine, I promise!
Happy Holidays, Lisa!
You crack me up, girl!
G.
I’m thinking a “Nightmare before Christmas” theme might do it for you, this year. Me, I’m just hoping to actually write and send cards this year (two years of absence really doesn’t make your friends remember to send you a card in return).
There never seems to be enough time to get ready for the holidays. They always loom up so quickly … when you’re not lookin’.
I like Genella’s idea of sticking a couple of santa hats on the skulls. Works for me.
Your life sounds like mine. I always plan to be ahead, but here I am working on edits for two different books for two different publishers. Thanksgiving (always at my house) looms over me like an avalanche about to fall.
I’m still hoping to take off a few weeks. Except for promotion. Except for blogging. Except for website updates. Well, you get the idea.
Your post made me laugh out loud. I remember one year being so busy, I looked up and my Christmas tree was still up in July. I actually remember having the debate with myself, justifying that since it was already more than halfway through the year, I should leave it up. (I ended up taking it down.)
Then there was the stretch where I didn’t decorate for 3 years in a row (very unlike me), but work was so busy and we traveled to my hubby’s family or mine for Christmas every year anyway, that we didn’t get to enjoy the tree.
Now that we have an 18 month old, I have to be a good responsible timely decorator. Halloween’s been up and down, I have fall stuff up now and will do Christmas for the first time in years.
Unless I sell a book……