The Holiday Season is upon us. One should be merry, attend parties, and be full of cheer. Have you baked enough cookies? Found stocking stuffers for everyone? Ordered the main course? The ritual is repeated, again and again in a whirlwind of holiday habit and celebration.
Now I am not at all Grinch-like, but I would like to pass along some holiday thoughts. I sometimes feel like I’m watching some bizarre cultural play that could be written by AI.
There is a superficiality that seems to accompany this seasonal whirlwind referred to as “the holidays”. Conversations about what food one will eat; who shall be at dinner; and of course the bombardment of ads to assist us in the perfect quest for the perfect gift. It’s a place of habit and comfort. And goodness knows we can all use some comfort.
But there seems to be a lack of human heart to much of it. I can remember (some years ago now) living outside of New Haven. My ex was doing a surgical residency, so everyone’s schedule was iffy, at best. To accommodate the widest possible swath of people, Thanksgiving was moved to Saturday. Every year, twenty five people or so attended, and everyone was welcomed. We didn’t have seating for that many souls, so people found a perch on the stairs or in front of the fireplace, and the dog wandered from plate to plate hoping for a morsel of food.
Random people, bright and entertaining, came together to tell their tales and to bond, even if for a few hours. Single, married, old, young…it didn’t matter. Wannabe writers, surgeons and business leaders mingled and drank and laughed.
And the menu! Ham and turkey and crab. Sweets and vegetables galore. Wine and whatnot. It was a celebration, a celebration of connection and community that makes me smile to this day.
Where did those days go?
I know people move on; families fracture. Given my travels and lack of rootedness in recent years, I often find myself in the capacity of observer. The holidays seem to have become a predictable, pre-scripted play.
I would bet that there are a lot of people who find themselves invited to this performance, to attend but not participate. So, as the holidays descend upon us, I urge you to think about who is in the audience, and if for just one event, you might invite them on stage. Think about that lady down the street who sweeps her porch spotless; a new neighbor; an awkward teenager; the elderly man that waves when you drive by. We haven’t been overrun by AI yet. Let’s use what’s left of our humanity to show some holiday cheer for each other.
Speaking of cheer, I think next year I’ll resurrect my come one, come all Thanksgiving feast next year! Seating’s not guaranteed, but good food and company are. And everyone is invited.
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And for the perfect holiday gift: Bump In The Road: 15 Stories of Courage, Hope and Resilience on Amazon
Wish I had met you when I lived in Prescott 2 years ago!