While waiting at the airport for our flight home from my
sister’s house yesterday, my feelings of ease and contentment after a great Thanksgiving
filled with food and relaxation turned to panic as I started my mental
list-making of everything that I had to get done before Christmas. Gift-getting,
decorating, meal planning, hosting, baking…. how could I possibly ever do it all? My happily full belly was suddenly
twisting with angst.
I took a walk to Hudson News and returned with a notepad, a
pen, and a cheesy womens magazine with a cover that promised me all
the secrets to my “Happiest Season Ever”.
I had found the answer. This was going to solve all of my problems.
Throughout our flight home I took furious notes and dog-eared pages as I scoured
the magazine from front to back. By the time we landed, I had my simplification
plan, which read, in part:
1. Make my own giftwrap out of brown craft paper and colored
tape.
2. Knit a stocking
for our dog and fill it with handmade dog biscuits.
3. Replace beer and wine at our Christmas Eve dinner with homemade peppermint schnapps punch.
4. Shop for a vintage festive punch bowl at local flea
markets (see #3).
