The Holidays

Well it's officially upon us. Stores are blasting Christmas tunes, trying to get you to come in for THEIR product, their special offer, their item that will ultimately make your life better and more fulfilled by giving this item or receiving it this season. Lights are starting to go up around the apartment complex ringing in the start of the period of time that is acceptable for displaying the gaudy exhibits of tradition.

As this time in my life is quickly flying by, I'm bracing for the Holidays. I inherited my desire for tradition and stability and true love of this season from my father. A few years back when certain traditions began to change, he and I both would get very bummed out, almost depressed even that we weren't partaking of the same laughter and foods and family and friends that we used to.

Now as I age and plan on adding in a whole other family to celebrate, I find myself drawing away from excitement from the Holidays. It's nothing against the new family that I'm joining. I think they're great. I'm excited to get to know them even further. On the flip side though, I'm having to face leaving a lot of the traditions behind in my family. And for some reason I think I'm taking it harder than most.

It's resorting to bartering between which family celebration is more important than another, or more in depth than another - which is more worth our time and which is no longer a priority. I don't like it. But it's all part of getting married, right? Blending of families. Creating new traditions. Finding that balance that will work in the future? I'm sure it will take a few years to get the kinks worked out, but I must say... I'd much rather skip over these next few years. I'm not looking forward to the holidays for quite some time...