DECK IT ALL

by Gina Sestak

Is anybody else having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year?

I started watching It's a Wonderful Life yesterday, but had to turn it off.  Jimmy Stewart was just so annoying!   And I couldn't stand Mary.   "Let the savings and loan fail!" I wanted to yell.  Not the proper Christmas spirit.

I tried to get into the right mood.  Really.  I made some donations, but I'm not feeling all that charitable.  As I wrote the checks, I found myself hoping that the charities would not respond by calling to ask for more or by sending me unwanted calendars, cards or odd small blankets.

I've tried listening to Christmas carols, but even my favorite CD hasn't done the trick.  What is that favorite CD? you may ask.  Well, it's non-traditional, a compilation called It's a Cow Christmas.

It is not just moo-ing, either; it includes the carols cattle would sing if they were Christian and spoke English:  The Hallemoojah Chorus, Angus We Have Heard on High, God Rest Ye Merry Cattlemen, We Wish You a Dairy Christmas and my very favorite, Deck the Stalls With Oats and Barley (moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, moo, 'Tis the season for cow parties . . . )

I haven't gotten my card list out yet, nor purchased Christmas stamps.

I have three big red-and-green boxes full of decorations sitting in my living room.  I haven't even opened them.    I usually have that all done by now, but even thoughts of my favorite nativity scenes aren't making me want to take them out of their boxes.

What are those favorite nativity scenes? you may ask.  Well, two are music boxes.  One has the Holy Family in a snow globe, rotating clockwise to the tune of Oh Little Town of Bethlehem while the three wise men rotate around them counter-clockwise, riding on a donkey, a camel, and an elephant(!).  Another is a matchbox, from which slides a wee little Holy Family surrounded by a train track on which a train runs to the tune of Silent Night.  Then there's the tiny statues I bought in Riviera Maya; everyone (Holy Family, angels, etc.) look very Mexican; they have cute miniscule sheep.   Another cardboard nativity scenes with all kinds of angels and animals, etc. pops up out of a very large book.  I have yet to unpack even one of them.

How about you?

Are you in the mood for Christmas?  Do you have your favorite decorations up?