CALENDAR CRUNCH

It must be almost December.  Things are beginning to pile up around me and I find myself slipping into denial about how much time I have left before I need to cook a turkey.

My Face book memories reminded me the other day that a few years ago I had all the shopping/cards/decorating done and it wasn’t even the end of November yet.  I was a little shocked at this, even to the point of checking to make sure I was on the right page.  I didn’t think I had ever been that far ahead of the game – and if I had, wouldn’t I have remembered it?  But, the page was mine, the post was backed up by comments from trustworthy people I actually know, it looked legit.  I still half think it was fake news.  I didn’t think it was possible I could be early ready for Christmas.

Then again, they do talk of such things as Christmas miracles. 

It’s not looking too much like I’m getting another one in 2019.

It’s not that I have nothing done.  I have a few gifts bought.  Well, more like partly bought.  I have half of what I want to give to a few people, all squirreled away in various closets and cupboards, plus a bag I just remembered in the back of my car.  One gift has already been delivered and is in use, two more are going to be delivered closer to the big day, and the gifts that have to go the farthest (Australia) are not even a solid plan in my head yet.  I’m going to regret that one, I can tell you.

What I really need is to clearly write this information down in list form so I can see where the empty blanks still are.  I might be pleasantly surprised that I’m further ahead than I think.

The one thing that I actually have all done is my Christmas letter.  Well, the writing it part is done.  I still have to buy the Christmassy paper to print it on, get the copies made, and address all the envelopes to the folks who get a paper letter.  Because I send so many I have switched to email for anyone whose address I know – so much quicker to send ... except that this year I lost all my contacts info and have to start from scratch.  On second thought, even the thing I thought I was done, I am not done.  That’s depressing.

Yesterday, since the ladder was up at the house because we were changing light bulbs in the porch, I sent my husband up to the attic to retrieve the Christmas lights and decorations.  This is a good thing, right?  Now I can get busy decorating whenever I feel like it.  I no longer have the excuse that the decorations are out of reach.  I realize now how much I was relying on that excuse.  Now I have four large tubs of tinsel, baubles and lights taking up all kinds of space in my TV room.  A smart person would decorate immediately and store the tubs in the basement.  A smart, energetic person.  I’m not sure I qualify on either count there, but I do recognize what is necessary.  It’s a start.

With all this talk of other holiday activities one must also face the biggy – Christmas baking.  The grocery stores all have baking ingredients on sale – they know it’s time.  My Face book friends are starting to post pictures of all the goodies they are brewing up in their kitchens – they know it’s time.  It’s the time of year for bake sales – they know it’s time.  The thing that I know is that if I start baking now it will all be eaten and I will have to do it all again in a couple weeks.  I’m going to save all kinds of work and reduce my caloric intake by the thousands and only make butter tarts once.  I’m crafty like that.

And then there will only be one more thing before the turkey goes into the oven.  Some quiet Sunday afternoon I will haul all my treasures out, gather paper and scissors and tape together, and wrap up Christmas.  Nothing is ever done until the paperwork is done, right?

And that will remind me it is almost January and that the paperwork of tax time is waiting for me next.