Home for the Holidays
This is the first time in six years I let myself recall Christmases of another lifetime ago, in another place I called home for 15 years, and remember the beautiful times I shared with friends who made the season so special.
Winter weather was miserable. I remember icy cold mornings oftentimes blanketed in thick tule fog that would not lift for days. I remember even more miserable evenings - when nightfall came at 5pm and the temperature would plummet from 15C to 6C in 2 hours.
I did not grow up with any Christmas tradition in my childhood. As a young adult, Christmas was all about parties and clubbing.
So that was the period in my life when I first encountered real Christmas celebration, so to speak.
Every home done up for the season. The Christmas tree resplendent with trimmings and ornaments. Carefully wrapped gifts sitting prettily under the tree, waiting to light up somebody's eyes on Christmas morning. Christmas lights twinkling inside and outside of the home.
The smells of the season - of baking cakes, breads, cookies and pies. Of firewood smoke puffs from chimneys. Of scented candles and incense adding to the warmth of hearth and home when we came in from the cold.
Above all, it was the friendship extended to me, unreservedly expressed in the form of open house, open arms, open hearts.
I miss you girls terribly during this time of the year. And I will come home for the holidays one of these years.
9 comments:
yes, xmas in singapore is all about the clubbing and shopping most of the time!
i would like to experience xmas in one of those cold wintry western countries at least once in my lifetime.
i hope you do :) i think it's the only time i feel christmas, if you know what i mean.
I always feel like scrooge cos I think xmas is so commercialised here. It would be nice to feel xmas as it should be.
On a similar note, I do not like the Vatican at all; it's more ostentatious than many palaces. I prefer the tiny churches in the small Italian towns.
i do the family and friends get together sort of christmas (ie the holiday season thingy). i can even do the commercial christmas, but i do not go anyway near the religious significance of christmas.
it's always about the food, the company, the wine, the laughter and that warm feeling of being surrounded by goodwill and people who love you. :)
imp - yes, you are exactly right. And for this holiday season, that is exactly my wish for you and yours :)
thank u.
and may the same warmth envelope you and fill your 2008 with health and happiness.
hmm....for the past 10 years my x'mas just been gigging....i won't mind doing that for another 10 years
imp - xxooxx
suziewong - wah, you going strong girl!
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