I have something to confess. As weird as this 2020 holiday season is, there’s something actually kind of nice about it. Usually, by this time in December, I’m busier than a one-armed paper hanger: running here and there, working our craft table down to the Christmas Bazaar at St. Hyacinth’s, shopping, baking, wrapping, yikes!
Oh, and don’t forget the overeating (some of it stress related, some of it just me getting swept up in the moment). There would have been my book group’s potluck and Yankee swap, customers down to the A&P bringing in baked goods, the Heavenly Treats booth at the Christmas Bazaar, where I can never yank myself away from Sister Henry Georgiana’s Holy Fudge. Then there were all the parties, sometimes more than one on a weekend. Nothing says ho, ho, ho, quite like that delightful combination of bloating and heartburn, right?
This year we’re actually doing what I have been trying to do for years. You know, slow 
down, simplify, and enjoy the season. We’re cutting way back on the presents. I’m mail ordering those. I’ve only gone to a couple parties and those were both on Zoom. (There’s only so much trouble you can get into alone in your house!) Folks have put a little something extra into their outdoor Christmas decorating this year, and Charlie and me are having fun checking out the show. I’m walking with friends (probably not quite six feet apart, but further than we usually are). Dad’s in lockdown over to Mahoosuc Green, but we’re zooming once a week with my sister Irene. That way, he can see our faces, no masks, and we can all just chat without distractions. I was going to bake a bunch of cookies to give to the neighbors, but decided not to get all caught up in that. Instead, 
I’m giving away jars of that rhubarb jam I canned last May. That appealed to me: a little taste of spring in December.
This year, the Women Who Run with the Moose didn’t have to stress out making crafts for the Christmas Bazaar. Frankly, it was nice to take a year off. We’ve moved our weekly girls nights from outside back to Zoom, of course. I miss seeing them in person, sure, but it works. As a rule, we don’t exchange presents. Instead, we usually go to Bangor for an all out day of shopping. That’s out this year, of course. We’ve decided that when this is over and we’re all vaccinated, we’re going to Portland for the weekend and have ourselves a good old time. We’re looking forward to that, hopefully this summer. (Fingers crossed!)
And you know what? Some nights Charlie and me just sit back in our Barkalounger 
loveseat gazing at our Christmas tree, feet up, drinking hot cocoa. Scamp’s usually between us, snuggled up and dreaming of who knows what? Bacon, probably, and running in the snow. And this year, I’m not stuffed from eating too much, stressed about all I have to do before Christmas, and just plain exhausted. No, I’m just enjoying these cozy moments with my guys. What a gift!
“There’s no place like home for the holidays, no matter how far away you roam.”
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: My Confession
Video of the Week:
This Sunday: One Show Only
A Very Ida Christmas!
December 20 at 2:00pm
The Music Hall Historic Theater
Portsmouth, NH
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