Like for probably everyone else, Christmas when you get older, is never the same as when you were little. You get older, you just get what you want, whenever you want it. But I woke up today, on Christmas, with just the sense, that it's all another day. Only getting four hours of sleep, doesn't help either. But after watching ''A Christmas Story,'' in the end sequences Christmas Eve, where they wake up to the white Christmas and Ralphie, gets the Red Ryder B.B. gun he wanted, it got me to thinking about how Christmas has lost most traces of that magical wonder.
I mean apart from the presents and gifts, just getting together for the family get-togethers doesn't even seem as fun. Again the four hours of sleep and not on my regular sequence played a part today. But I remember the greatest part of Christmas or any holiday, was getting to see my cousins and going outside and playing football. And a lot of times it was hit or miss, if they'd make it as they lived so far away or they had to work, so that made the time and discussions even more special. There was just that sense, especially during Christmas and Thanksgiving, that these were special times.
Maybe it is just the getting older. Or maybe I just need kids... Or maybe, it's the fact that with all family members and friends I have, we don't do gifts, only for the little kids. So, I miss out on the shopping and lose the sense of a countdown. I hate the cold weather, but there's something I like about being out on a cold clear December night, like when I went to the movie the other night. There was some of that feeling of Christmastime starting to show, but for the most part that feeling just eludes me this time of year. Maybe "A Christmas Story" had it right all along...
