Tag: holidays

All In

Friday, December 20, 2024

Today is “ugly Christmas sweater day” at work. I’m unprepared because, in the first place, I mistakenly thought this was a day off work for me; in the second place, I wore my only ugly sweater last Friday, mistakenly thinking that was the official ugly sweater day, and wondering why others weren’t wearing noisy sweaters.

My ugly Christmas sweater is from last year’s Christmas selections. It’s a cautious sweater, neither particularly ugly nor attractive, and can sort of fit the bill. Some quick research taught me there is an official Ugly Sweater Day, the third Friday in December.

I searched for how to make my sweater uglier quickly this morning. I’d need a “microstitch gun,” which isn’t handy at home. Somehow, I’ll work this out, and one option would be using my glue gun to attach some of my Cockatoo’s shiny baubles to my not-yet-quite-ugly-enough sweater.

I grew up in a Jewish-oriented family without knowing ugly sweater routines. These days, however, working part-time in a retail store through Christmas has opened up more about this time of year for me.

The weeks leading up to Christmas are becoming tense from timelines for shopping, finding gifts, and selling. Those add up until everybody becomes weary. Ugly Christmas Sweaters are a fun celebration and an unconventional silly letting loose and enjoying the festive season.

Ugly Sweater Day reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously; it lets us express joy with a dose of humor. I will start preparing for next year by ordering a microstitch gun. I will get ready to participate today by taking some baubles from Peaches’ cage and going to look for my glue gun.

Dear Friends: Today, I’ll take photos and salute sweaters with creativity. Diana

Culturally Resonant

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

I went to our local twenty-four-hour supermarket through late afternoon’s gloomy drizzle, not knowing exactly why but vaguely needing something. Many others, like me, were braving the chilly drizzle by hurrying into and out of the store. Once inside, I found myself maneuvering around other shoppers in crowded aisles. Suddenly, I woke up, “Hey, Stupid! This is Thanksgiving week!”

Aha! Thanksgiving had been the submerged but driving idea pointing me toward the market. I looked around with fresh attention, eying the offerings. Relatively inexpensive turkey at holiday time is a huge draw. I won’t be cooking for this holiday but I’d not mind eating turkey next week and probably beyond. I searched through a tank full of frozen big birds for the smallest one, finally bringing home anyway a large turkey, but feeling satisfied.

I’ll cook my turkey on another day off, either this weekend or early next week. Since experience reminds me that I’ll quickly tire of eating turkey, I’ll immediately portion and freeze the cooked bird. I’ll save plenty for my dogs; they won’t tire of eating turkey. My Cockatoo, Peaches, too; he weighs in grams and won’t dent the leftovers. Besides, Peaches favors bones–cracks them and devours marrows.

So many thoughts about Thanksgiving made me reconsider some psychological appeals of Turkey-Time. Essentially, the holiday taps into some of the most basic human needs: connection, belonging, gratitude, and meaning. Often, while busily focused on tasks, goals, and objectives, I disregard those basics. What refreshes me is remembering and thinking about the holiday.

The same will recur at Christmas time. I’ll likely drift again into the 24-hour supermarket and wander toward specialty foods. And, from deep in my mind, recalling pleasantness: feeling actively connected and belonging, thankful and meaningful.

Dear Friends: The coin’s other side: I need this giant turkey like a hole in my head. Diana