Christmas is Coming
Today marks the final march to the holiday
It’s Sunday, December 18th. In one week, Christmas will be here. I can’t remember the last time Christmas fell on a Sunday. Must have been over five years or more since the last Sunday of Christmas. It’s exciting and feels so appropriate for the holiday.
Right now, my city is in the midst of a cold spell. We had snow last weekend, in some places up to several inches. We had about 2–3 inches in the city. Then, the cold spell arrived and froze everything. By the end of last week, the temperatures rose and we had three days of rain. The snow is gone and the cold remains.
I don’t know if we will have a white Christmas. It doesn’t seem likely but anything is possible in New England. Many states, like Vermont and Maine, are knee-deep in snow. Buffalo, NY had a major snowstorm back in November. They’re still digging out.
This is the week when people will hit the malls and online retailers with fury. Retailers will offer rock-bottom prices to drive people to the stores. Online retailers will add discounts and expedited shipping. Some people wait until a few days before Christmas to score last-minute deals. Others wait because there is always someone they forgot to buy a gift for.
My shopping, for the most part, is done. I’m going to snag a few gift cards for a few people and that’ll be it. I can easily obtain gift cards from CVS, Walgreens, or StopnShop. No need to deal with crowds or fight for a parking space.
This is also the time to finalize things in December to prepare for the new year. I usually make New Year Resolutions, but not this year. For 2023, I just want to reach my goals. I want my 2023 to be better than 2022. My goals are to publish my essays and poems, create a cohesive poetry collection, and travel both nationally and internationally. And of course, maintain and improve my health. I want to do better and feel better in the new year.
So, get your shopping, shipping, and online ordering together. Visit family and friends. Attend parties. Be safe because COVID, the flu, and RSV are out there. Decorate your tree or if you haven’t done so already or your Menorah. Happy Hanukkah to the Jewish community! Celebrate the season safely! Enjoy!
