 |
My Idea of Christmas |
Christmas. What exactly is it? A holiday; a time of year where tidings of joy are spread through the world, but through what? Presents or family?
Last year I had a wonderful Christmas. Not because I got cool gifts or anything like that, but because my family reunited. After two years, I broke the code of silence with my father, and we got together at my brother’s house for a nice Christmas Eve. It was indeed a wonderful present.
One day my grandfather whom I hold very dearly and may he rest in peace, was sitting with me on his balcony. We were smoking cigars and he told me, “family is the most important thing in life.” Grant it he was in the middle of a ten-year standoff with my father, but I think that is why he decided to have this talk with me. “No matter what happens, you can depend on family.” Eventually my father and grandfather found their way back to each other. So he was right. My father spent my grandfather’s last day alive with him before he had a stroke. Everyone finds their way back to la famiglia.
I believe that too much emphasis gets put into the commercial form of Christmas. Many of us worry about the shopping, the gifts; all the material bullshit that doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things. We need to learn how to stand by the family through the good and the bad. Last year during the holiday, my girlfriend and her family had a falling out and didn’t speak to each other until this Christmas. Maybe baby Jersey had something to do with that. I don’t know.
Christmas to me represents taking a look at one’s self and reflects on the life they lived. It is a special time of year when we try to celebrate our gifts. Our true gifts. The fact we can breathe air. The fact that we have two arms and two legs and a roof over our heads. Many out there do not have anything. Many soldiers are out there doing whatever our leaders want them to. We should be grateful we have a life to live, and for good health. Happiness comes once in a while, and we should treasure it when it does. It is fun watching the little ones go nuts over the presents, but really? Is that what Christmas represents? Maybe for some, but not for me.
I will raise Jersey to know there is more to life than Santa.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas.
JAE
PS: Here’s a funny joke someone sent me.
How do you know Santa is a man? Because he shows up late, eats your cookie, empties his sack, comes only once, and the fucker leaves when you’re asleep.
