Monday, November 14, 2011

I'll be home for Christmas...

A local radio station started playing Christmas music last Friday. And not the happy, jolly, get-in-the-Christmas-spirit music like Jingle Bells. But rather the hard-core carols, the likes of O Holy Night and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

At first I was disgusted. Really? Starting on November 11, we need to start proclaiming and rejoicing? Really? What happened to Veteran's Day? And Thanksgiving? I immediately switched stations.

Then on Sunday, as I was flipping through the presets on my car stereo, they were playing I'll Be Home for Christmas. And I stopped and listened. And then I smiled. My grinchly little heart began to swell.

You see, BSD will be home for Christmas. When he first left in September, that thought did little more than depress me. I didn't want to deal with all the planning and decorating and shopping by myself. I wanted to ignore all things holiday. Fast-forward to Christmas morning. Move on to New Year's Eve.

But inch by inch, I've started to let the holiday spirit creep in. I've started to plan. Just a little. I've started to shop. Just a little. And I've started listening to their Christmas carols. Just a little.

Yes. By the time Christmas rolls around. FORTY ONE days from now. I just may be staring into the mirror at one of THOSE people. An ugly Christmas sweater wearing, jingle bell earrings dangling, Santa hat donning, pitch pipe blowing, crazy Christmas caroler. Those bastards won me over. With I'll Be Home for Christmas.

I don't know if the ballerinas will survive. It's 77 degrees here today. And this is how I sent LB off to school this morning.  Christmas? Bring it.

15 comments:

Andrea @ little buckles said...

She looks lovely and snug! Don't get me started on christmas. I'll start having panic attacks :) glad to hear your bsd will be back. That must be the best present x

Gabe said...

I'm curious and curiouser. . .where is BSD??

So, glad he will be home for Christmas. . .I posted a similar sentiment today. I LOVE Thanksgiving, so I don't want to rush Christmas right over it, but I'm sorta, kinda gettin in the mood!

sloan said...

oh well, i'm still grinchy myself - nowhere near ready for the holidays! and yes, what's with the weather - it was 68 degrees here today (normal = 50 if you're lucky) - whoa!

Bridget said...

So glad that BSD will be home for Christmas!! :)

I've been dreading Christmas, but hearing the songs and seeing the Christmas decorations in the stores will win me over bit by bit before Christmas finally gets here. For now, I'm more like...meh...

It got up to 80 here today. Good grief! I only wore a long sleeve shirt two days before it warmed up again.

My Interior Life said...

I've been a little cranky about the early onset Christmas carols, but now I find myself humming them. Oh well, if you can't beat em, join em, right? And LB looks adorable!

{cindy} said...

I serioulsy love Christmas and all that it brings...i can start it all way early in novemeber...but by December 27th I am like tree be gone!!!!:)
So glad your baby will be home soon!
have a happy day Kim

Pam said...

I'm so glad he'll be home for Christmas too!
And for some reason I'm loving all the holiday stuff out already! I'm totally in the mood! Great photo!!

Jen said...

I'm trying hard to get in the spirit. Glad your family will be together and home. Yeah! I'll think of you when I hear Christmas music on the radio later today! Our local stations have been sneaking a few in too.

Kerri said...

I LOVE Christmas music...but just can't seem to bring myself to listening to it until Thanksgiving. I have heard it in the stores already though! So glad BSD will be with his family for Christmas. How long has he been gone? AWESOME picture of LB!

Megan said...

Aw, I love this! How great that he will be home for Christmas. Bless your heart and your girls that you have been missing him since September. But happy to hear that you are getting in the spirit. I am usually with you on the early Christmas music, but given my circumstances...I would love to hear a little Christmas music! Usually, it helps me if I focus on the fun things like the music or the food or the pretty things, rather than on what has to get done. Then I stay happy. If that doesn't work, I pop a few Peppermint Hershey kisses in my mouth and that always makes me merry!

Nicolle said...

The picture and what you said has me laughing out loud!

I'm so glad BSD will be home for Christmas. I can imagine back in September you felt like you did, but I'm glad you are getting excited now. It's in the 80s here today, someone in our neighborhood already has their Christmas lights up and on, and I'm not sure I'm feeling it quite yet. Hopefully soon. :)

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

I love that hat. 77 degrees!?!?! I have a hard time thinking about Christmas in that weather. But you can do it. Let it be happy!

I worked in retail for 8 years and I hated, wait actually more like HATED (!!!!) that music. Hated the annoying people, the crowds, the lookie-loos...and even the men who bought stuff that I KNEW was going to be returned because most men don't know their wife's actual size. (6'2" black women DO NOT wear a size 5 shoe!)

Now that I am out of that, I love Christmas! It's so fun to put on the music, the movies, drink a little cider and wrap presents, anticipating the joy...

I think this could be a great way to while away the time while BSD is gone!

And PS I want a photo of the ugly sweater when you don it! Fa La La!

Amy said...

She's so cute, how can you NOT send her to school in that?

kim {the non-mom blogger} said...

What did I miss? Where's BSD? I un-Grinched myself this year - it's a Christmas miracle ;)

Kristin said...

Can you say GAP model! She is so freakin' adorable in that hat, I can hardly stand it!!! I do hope you frame this one, or better yet, make it into a canvas. It is too cute not too! I'm glad you're getting into the Christmas spirit and the countdown to BSD return has begun!!!