WITH November 1 and 2 out of the way and one sits at the work desk contemplating the looming holidays, it’s only then that you realize there are no more stops between now and Christmas.
It’s almost like your bus has just left the station, and the rest of the way to your destination is a short and non-stop ride. You suddenly remember it had been during this particular time, the same as last year; the uncomfortable feeling, short of panic, has slowly begun to engulf you. And like an Arnold movie, it’s calling, “I’m back!“
However, the strain in you is brief in its passing, though. Same as last year, your nerves slowly settle, and you silently whisper an old king’s acceptance: “So, it begins.”
Old friends say that preparing for the holidays at the present time has become more convenient, owing to the presence of online shopping and other modern methods.
The purist in some corner of me disagrees. There is a certain degree of martyrdom involved when you find yourself standing in a long line at the grocery store, eyes like CCTV scanning nameless faces, hoping to ingest the air of holiday. Perhaps that’s how lonely I’ve become.
No matter how people tell me it’s good that nowadays you can order online to save on time, a part of me silently asks: is that how laid-back we’ve turned into, waiting for the apple to fall from the tree?
But seriously, if one thinks about it, convenience has made it all too easy for us. But isn’t that the point, a younger era may ask? No killjoy this one, but the processes and one-two-threes of long ago make sense, at least for old people.
There are patterns that we must follow, Simon & Garfunkel’s songs, and now, during this straightaway deadline to Dec. 25, it makes them all the more worthwhile.
Sometimes, all I just see of the new age conveniences are slam-bang-thank-you routines,, and there seems to be no fun anymore out of it. In a way, the thrill of the hunt may have already died with the old ways.
But in all, let old geezers have their say. We’re just passengers at this point. In a way, sad and otherwise, be the good old dog and learn to sit like a rock.
For all you know, this newfound ‘exercise’ eases the unrest in your mind a bit so that after a while, all is well. Sitting it out is really not such a boring chore at all. No wonder old dogs sleep all day.
