…I am a wife, writer, custom picture framer among other things (in truth, I started to just put picture framer since the main thought behind this particular post is regarding that aspect of my life, but then felt that I’d rather be known as a writer as I hold that more dear, and of course the question of adding in wife came up since I hold the bestower of that title dearer still, and what if I neglected to put that in and he who bestoweth found out?).
As the Christmas holiday draws near, my workload in the shop increases and I soon find myself unable to quote my normal turnaround time since the very real deadline of December 25th is not one that can be extended. In all my years now of being in retail I’ve not had the joy and peace of the season until it is over. I rush through online shopping, scribble out cards, slap up a tree and toss the lights wherever they fall within days of the holiday, stay opened late Christmas Eve until all the framed work for Christmas has been picked up, then sit as a mumbling zombie in the passenger seat of a car driven here and there by my spouse (that’s the he that bestoweth) visiting family and friends for a week.
This year will be different. No family to visit since I don’t think we’ll be asked, and most friends have gone away. No money for presents and no time to bake cookies, and the feeling of Christmas is not a good one this year. But with hope and with time I think January or February may instead be the perfect time for relaxing and some celebration. Odd, that the new year that never meant much, means so much more to me now.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
Stan’s best friend was a florist and each Christmas Eve, he would have a big seafood dinner. He’d make it home at 6:00, cook everything, grill eel in the fireplace, then pass out on the sofa, got a horrible cold, and stay in bed for days afterwards.
The holidays are not kind to retailers.