a.k.a. V.J.

My relationship with Christmas has evolved along with my advancing life stages. As I child, I of course loved Christmas. As a teen, I still liked it but tried not to let on how much for fear of appearing uncool. As a young adult, I tried hard to feel the elusive “Christmas spirit” and felt like there was something wrong with me when it didn’t materialize. As the parent of young children, joy returned to the holiday, but it was also an exhausting endeavor making sure everything was special for them. Now that the kids have grown, I just sort of relax and take Yuletide as it comes.

That latter approach works well for me and the relaxation part is the secret sauce. Two factors make it possible: 1. The fall semester at Oswego ends in mid-December and I get a five-week break from teaching; and 2. I have accumulated so much vacation time at my day job that I can afford to take the last couple weeks of the year off. At this writing, I am enjoying Day 2 of 2024’s year-end vacay blowout.

I don’t have any plans for all this spare time. Keeping it low-key and open-ended is my Christmas present to myself. From late August up until a few days ago, my schedule was packed. I always had tasks that needed to be done and places to be. To wake up in the morning and not be facing a litany of obligations is refreshing. This decompression is a true year-end treat; all the lights, presents, food, and seasonal music accompanying it are almost incidental.