Christmas Came Calling

When Christmas comes calling with its demands of gifts, goodies, and gaggles of other things, I get overwhelmed. My 'Scrooginess' sets in, and a 'Bah Humbug' feeling takes over. Like the winter solstice the time grows shorter with December 25th looming closer. The beautiful Christmas lights, musical programs and the radio's constant carols, forces you to take action.

There is no running away from gift giving unless you want to look foolish when the swapping begins. It can all be so stressful that the season is difficult to enjoy. The secret is to "Do It" early, take the gifts out, relieve yourself of the pressure that waiting too long brings.

Enter Allan, my husband, to the rescue. In October, he began cutting out wooden nativities and ornate 3-d trees. He worked on them every minute he had as he calculated how many we would need. It was fifty. He worked and worked, we planned and wrapped. Then began giving, and giving and more giving. Soon the relief came, knowing we had given all we had and then some. We were done and it was still a week before Christmas.

People loved Allan's creations. I loved not having the pressure hanging over my head. Allan got a taste of what getting the gifts for giving entails. He has become more involved the past several years. The last week before Christmas was enjoyed thoroughly because everything was done. Yeah! and thank you Allan for being prepared when Christmas came calling. We survived!