What I Have
For the first time in many moons, I tweaked my Christmas decorations. Added to the collection. Made changes. Oh, I have bought new lights and the like recently, but outside was always my purview. Inside belonged to my wife. She’s gone now, however, and inside is mine as well. So, I went to big box craft store and bought garlands and bows and little trees. Sixty percent off in most cases. Pretty nice. I put them up yesterday. There was a Santa I should have bought, and I may go back and get it today. If it’s still there.
Yesterday I went to another big retailer and bought my Christmas cards. It’s still November, and the staff was putting out boxes of Christmas decorations. I realized that for the first time in recent memory I was catching the first wave of Christmas retail and seeing store shelves being filled with goods. Usually, when I get to them, they’re picked over and nearly bare. I’m going back today to buy wrapping paper. And maybe some other new Christmas thing that will remind me of Christmas 2022, because so far, it’s been a good holiday season and I’d like to celebrate that. In fact, it’s been a good year.
It started with a little new years eve party with a small group of friends. It continued on through the year with trips to Red River, Big Bend, Marathon, and Oklahoma. There were house concerts, shows at music venues, shopping trips. I avoided surgery. Got well. Physically and mentally. Wrote songs. Wrote essays, like this one. Made new friends. All good things. And I know all good things come to an end. Heck, life will come to an end. But right now, at this moment, happiness is on my mind. Sure, sorrow has come and sorrow will come again. But happiness is what I have, and happiness is what I will enjoy. Today.
John W. Wilson is the author of The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver's Tale