Our Christmas Seasonal Journey . . . Or How We Stayed Sober and Cheerful (for a Remarkably Long Time)

Cute here for my 2025 blog wrap-up edition. Let me say up front that I do enjoy the Christmas season. I listen to the carols, and much to the chagrin of Cutest, I attempt to sing/howl along. We watch a broad spectrum of holiday themed movies, from Miracle on 34th Street to Die Hard and The Ref. Sorry, Hallmark holiday shows haven’t made the cut.

Since we're not having snow this Christmas . . . And here's a puzzle for you: which picture doesn't belong?

We drive through the Plaza admiring the colorfully lit building outlines then scratch our heads or laugh when passing blow-up characters in neighboring yards. Plays, happy hours, charity events, reading the Night before Christmas, it all morphs into an avalanche of overwhelming sparkliness that absorbs everything in its path.

Sometimes, some might say we are silly:

Sometimes we participated:

Sometimes, we only watched:

Quixotic's Winterland, A Holiday Cirque Experience at Crown Center. Catch it next year.

Rewinding to our less exotic childhoods, Christmas definitely had a different vibe. Outdoor decorations were fewer and more homemade, and they were kept in storage until after Thanksgiving, not out before Halloween. Festivities included school or church Christmas plays. I still recall receiving at sack full of candy canes and oranges when exiting the auditorium.

When visiting my Kansas City grandparents, we always allowed extra time to drive downtown to gaze at the giant gold crowns swaying in the wind over Main street. My country grandparents visit always meant seeing those once-a-year distant relatives, sitting at the kids' table on the back porch, and trying to figure out who brought the disgusting carrot casserole with marshmallow topping.

With nearly ninety days of songs, Santas and sugar, I understand why some among us begin to have a greenish Grinch look by late December.  But amazingly, after the big day has come and gone and the trees and decorations have been trundled to the storage unit, there is a tinge of sadness, of loss. However, at the same time, an ember begins to glow brightly in my head as thoughts of next year’s holiday season stir.

A note to all our loyal blog readers and hopefully a few new ones: we will be taking a break from our writing duties until early January. Please stay tuned as we will begin the New Year reporting from where sand and sun will more fill our daily routine.

Ho ho ho and happy wishes for 2026 with no casualities of any kind!