Now some may argue that I’m too old to write this, that I’m too old to believe, that I’m too old to have a Christmas wish, but to me it is all about keeping the spirit alive.
So I am Sixteen years old, my name is Jennifer and with every year, Christmas becomes less magical in my family.
Now I will admit as a child a lot of the joy of Christmas came from the secret surprises hidden under the wrapping under my Christmas tree, the hidden euphoria of sneaking down late at night, or when parents were not around to shake the boxes, to compare what we thought each was with my siblings. Secret Santa Christmas eve, because their was no possible way we could go to sleep that night with out opening just one of our gifts, staying up to track where you were, how close your were getting, just to crawl into bed at the last minute and wake up a few hours earlier, at a time we referred to as Christmas “Morning” even though the sun was no where near waking with us. To see the tree covered with newly delivered presents.
That isn’t what it all was to me. The joy of pulling out the Christmas tree and spending a whole afternoon together with my family, and I mean my whole family, our tree has always been a mix match of un matching , totally clashing decorations with pounds and pounds of garland. Making my Nana’s whipped shortbread cookies with my mother, fighting over who got to hang their stocking on which stocking hanger. It was about us all being together, all of us going to church, all of us kids squished in one room to sleep, or rather pretend to, the night before, it was about waking up to pretty packaging, not a whole bunch of stuff, but the beauty of the carefully wrapped presents, about opening things, and the countless hours at the storeto buy something to make the other person happy.
As I get older, things change, I don’t have a Christmas list, or want anything actually, I have what I need, but its more about spending the time thinking and buying real gifts that everyone will like, something that everyone will actually like, spending more time thinking about others this season rather than myself.
Unfortunately that is not the only thing that has changed. My mother has grown a distain for Christmas, things are put up because they have to be, setting up the Christmas tree without us to get it done, feeling like all we want is gifts, not wanting to bake with me, and Christmas just became a big humbug for her, this year I can tell she tried, a little because I expressed to her that it hurt, but It feels that her Christmas spirit isn’t there.Now a days it’s a miracle if my family is together in the same room longer than it takes to shove food down their throats, we’ve all become separated and I’m scared that this year we will all be waking up on Christmas morning alone. And Christmas will totally not be Christmas anymore.
So I know I haven’t been perfect all year, but If I could just ask you this one thing, the only thing I want for Christmas, I would like to have my family instilled with the Christmas spirit, and If we could do that without the ghosts and such because ghosts scare me, I would like it if everyone could be happy, if we could all be together and enjoy it together.
I thank you in advanced for trying your best, or at least replying to my letter, that would make me really happy.
Merry ChristmasJennifer Arbeau
P.S. Favorite kind of cookie? I still plan to have them left out for you Christmas eve, and carrots for the reindeer. Never too old to appreciate a man and his hardship of traveling the world in one night to bring the joy to others.
Your house LOOKS SO DECORATED!
ReplyDeleteAhaha xD It's actually only one corner of one room : 3
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