Food, family and festivities is what we are looking forward to.
For years I was lied to about Santa Clause and believed that a big man delivered our presents and it turned out to be the highlight of that day for me. I was filled with the joyous spirit and this magical feeling whenever December came around. Then the 23rd of December 1996 happened to me. My father was ripped from our lives that fateful night. Suddenly Christmas didn’t feel as magical to me anymore.
The years went on and almost out of habit I celebrated Christmas like usual. Food, friends and family were the usual offering and Santa Clause left my mind after the age of 8 or 9 I think. It all just seemed arbitrary to me, kind of like it was just another day to celebrate.
Then I met my wife and we fell pregnant with our little Liah and I started to feel this familiar feeling starting to stir within me. I sat on the couch next to my wife and started to daydream about the future and what Christmas will be to our daughter. Getting the gifts wrapped and sneaking them under the tree before she realises it was us. Pretending to put something out for him to eat when he delivers the presents. Seeing her face light up when she gets exactly what she wanted. Getting the families together and eating so much food that we can barely speak and all of us pass out on the couches for a nap. Tucking her into bed and making sure her presents are close by because she might want to play with them when she wakes up. All of these thoughts make that feeling in my stomach, that Christmas feeling stir up and take over.
Needless to say I am looking forward to this Christmas with all our family and loved ones, all the food and all the festivities in between. We still have a few years to practice until Liah can celebrate with us but until then, I will practice and get everything perfect for her so that she too can have that joyous, magical feeling like I have discovered in myself again.
Have a magical Christmas and a prosperous New Year to all!
