If you didn’t know me, you’d think I’m being a Grinch. I haven’t hung up lights. There’s no tree. I’m not listening to carols (though I’ve been Whammmed three times so far). I haven’t cleaned the house. Mrs. Curmudgeon and I don’t exchange presents. (Some caveats to that; I did treat myself to a new miter-saw a few months ago and I’m sure Mrs. Curmudgeon has Amazon-ed herself some nice stuff and I’m glad she has. We just don’t do the “surprise and wrapped box” thing.) There’s no outward sign of the season. If you were judging by Hallmark movie standards we’re nearly zombified.
But that’s a false surface appearance. Below that we’re both having a great holiday season. In fact, I’m off the charts happy. It’s one of the most Christmas-y Christmases I’ve had in years. I’m an empty nester and I’m enjoying the total lack of pressure. There’s no stress. I don’t have to do shit. I’ve got a forest full of trees. I meant to bring one in and decorate it… then I didn’t. Why? Because I’ve earned the right to not. The trees can stay out there with the chickadees.
I even had a brief flurry of activity with my 3d printed jig sales. Very fun. For a while my workshop had a Santa’s elves vibe to it. Then I caught up. Well mostly caught up. I have one last order to ship and that’ll hit the mail in the near future. (3D printers are not fast.)
In the main, I’ve been checked out and relaxed; kicking back by my woodstove. I’m burning wood I cut myself and reading. That’s it, just reading. Not even reading anything deep. Just fluff. I even slacked off on blog posting. (Forgive me.)
I’ve got lots to be happy about. I’m deeply appreciative of the fact that my health scare of earlier this year didn’t plant me in the ground. Not being dead is awesome. I hesitate to even mention my tribulations. What knocked me down is nothing like the horrors many people have endured. Regardless, it was real to me. A thing happened that really sucked and now it’s mostly handled and so I’m beaming like a little kid. Life is simple that way. Who wouldn’t be fuckin’ ecstatic to be getting better?
A note on that; I thought I’d bounce back. Nope! It’s apparently a marathon not a sprint. I planned to be ice fishing and winter camping by now. But that’s just unwise so far. I’m getting better day by day at a snails pace. Slow and steady; on a schedule that’s not mine. There’s not a damn thing I can do to accelerate things and that’s fine. I suppose God had it in his plans to clip my wings a bit and maybe that’s something I needed. Who am I to reject a present of humility?
Speaking of humble acceptance, I somehow threw out my back and picked up a head cold all at once. Ouch! It sucks. But I’m practicing my new lessons in letting things take their time. I cancelled a few plans, bought another fluff book on my kindle, and parked my ass by the fire. It’s all very cozy and domestic. Some sniffles and hot cocoa, not too bad a fate. Statistically speaking I’ll get better in 7-10 days. My old self would be pissed off and my new self is like “whatever”. My old impatient opinion was dumb. 7-10 days is what it is, no point in freakin’ out.
I’m not sure why 2025 is such a time of quiet thankful joy. Maybe the shock of society shitting itself in 2020 faded? Or maybe I further distanced myself from a society dumb enough to be like that? Maybe it’s my health? Maybe some hard earned wisdom has kicked in? I changed my work situation and that definitely didn’t hurt. It could be all of that or it could be something else. I guess I don’t know why I’m so happy. I don’t even care. It just is.
Merry Christmas y’all!
I think it’s called grace. Maybe interregnum. Calm before storm?
My body tells me I have to slow down before flaming out, so I’m listening to it hack up a lung for the yuletide.
Silver bells ringing ensure an interesting new year, so rest up.
I hear ya. Minimal decoration on the inside. My wife would put something Christmas on every flat surface in the house. Boxes and boxes of Christmas decorations in the garage and none of it came out this year, to my relief.
I always put up a 20 ft. tree of light stringers in the front yard but this year I installed a telescoping flagpole and that made it much easier than trying to stand up a pole full of heavy lights.
And on health, I hear you there also. Had back surgery 6 months ago and for some reason I thought I would be back to 100% in short time. Maybe up to 75% at this point and I am not really sure I want the other 25% back. It made me slow down a lot and that seems to be a good thing.