Wow, is it over, yet?

The holiday blitz begins with Halloween.

Every year I pull out my costume, an orange shirt with the saying, “This is my Halloween costume.” Hey, it was original when I bought it eight years ago. Once again, last minute, I rush out to my “go to place,” Jewel, and purchase a zillion (but who’s counting) bags of candy ready for the kiddie onslaught.

Ugh, of course, the weather on Halloween turns out to be freezing cold and pouring, drenching rain.  The only idiots trick-or-treating are some teen boys eager to fill up their pillow cases, so I dump more than a bag in each and wonder if I was one of those candy over-achievers who used to trick or treat in all kinds of weather – I know the answer – I was!

Before I have time to finish off the last pieces of left over candy, Thanksgiving soon approaches. I join the masses of stressed out and angry passengers flying cross country for Thanksgiving, the busiest time for airlines, at least I don’t have a middle seat.  Get to my destination, only an hour late and wait another hour for my luggage and another hour for my sister to remember to come pick me up.

Ah, Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays because it’s usually a no stress day spent with good food and family. Who am I trying to fool? “Teachers are not professionals,” says my brother-in-law to no one in particular, in that “I’m ready to pick a fight” kind of tone. Really? We are, finally, at the best part of the meal – dessert. I’m just about to bite into my pumpkin pie. Here it comes…the steam slowly filters through my ears. I can feel my heart start to beat just a tad faster.  Is he kidding me?

Okay, I think, at least we waited until dessert to disrupt the family dinner. The next  thirty minutes are tense, painful, and do not really match the spirit of the holiday. Words fly across the table.  Most of my nieces and nephews, all who are in college, leave the table, laughing instead of joining the cause.  A few other in-laws join the foray (thank goodness, they are on my side) and my one sister, with her bloody nose, pretends the argument isn’t happening and just keeps eating her pie.

At last, the football game breaks up our  heated discussion.  My brother in law offers a truce by calling me a bull-dog and I put out my hand to shake his. He takes it and the war is over. Whew!

I just get back from out east to catch my breath and not only does Christmas loom ahead, but so do the dreaded final exams.  I help my freshman daughter study by having her quiz me (reverse psychology?) Based on the questions, there is no way I would pass any of her exams. I listen and watch the other students as they study, stress, and study some more. I don’t think sleep is involved.

How, I wonder, does a high school student not only get through the week, but, actually, pass each of their classes?   How in the world do any of us, young or old, year after year, cram so much information into our brains? I shudder to think what amount gets retained and, especially, how much joy there is in our learning? But’s that’s another story!

I don’t care. Holidays are hard.  Too much to do, too little time to do it and no energy left, period.

So, I’m feeling a little like Gatsby…boats against the current, beating on and on for infinity, yada…yada…yada…

To make me feel better, I fall back to literature. Maybe, some words of wisdom will lift me up.  Funny, though, the only saying that keeps banging me over the head is one little line of script  from the  holiday movie, Miracle on 34th Street, “faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.”

Yes, it is my faith that holds everything together. It is my faith that will not only get me through the stress of the holidays, but will also provide me with some calm, too. According to (my favorite) Gospel writer, Luke, “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 

So, with all of this said, have a truly wonderful, restful, and holy Christmas holiday.