My Favorite Time of Year

Each year when I was growing up the music started earlier and earlier in the year.... the Christmas music.  First, she would wait until the day after Thanksgiving, but each year it just kept creeping up a little at a time.  Mom would blast the Christmas music through the house and busy herself creating the piece of art she called a Christmas tree.  Most of the time the lights were still up from the year before so Dad and Jason would be on the roof trying to figure out why they didn't work.  It seemed as though the Christmas music got louder and louder as we neared Christmas day; therefore, we (me and my 3 siblings) got louder and louder as we shouted for it to be turned off!!  

You see, Christmas music never just meant that Christmas was coming hence a fantastic time of year, but it also meant a monstrous chore list.  There were always pecans to be picked up from the yard (which led to raw noses from wiping with a gloved hand), leaves to be raked, baking to do (which led to a dirty kitchen), laundry to fold, presents to wrap, etc... etc... etc...  As I lived through this "torture" during my childhood and teenage years it was annoying to say the least.  What wouldn't be annoying about that music playing on repeat all day long while Mrs. Claus ordered around her elves in order to get ready for the season?  Now that I'm grown and moved away, these memories make me smile.  I miss such a simple time.

You know what the funny thing is about how things change??  I bought a Christmas cd the other day... and it's playing on repeat, right now.

To my family and friends, and their family and friends.... I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous new year in 2010!!

Photo credit :: Gabriel Ryan Photographers :: www.gabrielryan.net