I hate putting away Christmas decorations. Whether I rush to get it done in a day or drag it out for a week, it is a tedious, melancholy process. Un-decorating means the anticipation is over, the celebration is done, and everyone has gone. Collectively, with the help of advertising, Americans tend to now heave a sigh and twist to face the next holiday of choice on which to focus, but I find it a little harder to let go than that.
Part of my reluctance is that the articles in question never go back as easily as they came out of their containers, and seldom do they fit as well. I diligently mark the contents of every box, but either the items mysteriously increase in size or they somehow multiply, I’m not sure which. I also have to sheepishly admit that I hate to throw away some of the pretty bows and handy boxes that we are left with after our rip-and-tear-sessions. I’m sure they’ll come in handy next year, if I can just figure out where to stuff them for the next eleven months.
I guess sentimentality is the other part of my dislike for taking down decorations. The house is emptier, the winter weather is less charming, and people begin to smile less as they trudge back into their normal routines. However, maybe I should look at it differently this year.
According to my new mantra, I should “seize the moment, celebrate, and savor” this end-of-season drudgery. Let’s see…hmmm. Um, nope. Still leaves me cold. See ya next year Santa. Don’t be gone long.
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