I spent Christmas alone and it was fine. Sure, I missed family and friends but we were in touch through the wonderful magic of video calls. There were no complicated arrangements, boring discussions, or effusive dinners. And no talk of politics and Trump. Living alone has its merits.
Still, one couldn’t escape memories of Christmases long past―my mother singing carols as we gathered around the piano, a big decorated tree in the hallway, happy visits from friends, extraordinary meals, and of course the flood of presents. And we were Jewish.
Well, this December 25 was certainly not “just another day,” so I filled it with distractions. Football games on Netflix (I killed the soundtrack of the inane commentators and filled it with music: Respighi’s thunder accompanied players bouncing off one another). Instead of the usual Christmas fare, I ate steak and baked potato.
The holidays do seem quieter and much less frantic this year—at least from my vantage point in Mexico. Some in the media offer cheery explanations for this: AI and other “friendly” technology, sustainable gifting, new Christmas music, smaller gatherings, and so on.
This is all bullshit. The big change this year is that people have been overwhelmed by the changes wrought by Trump & Co. and Christmas offers an escape, a brief time to recover from them. It’s like finding yourself still alive after a bad automobile crash.
Now looms the New Year and its festivities. I’ll do what I do every year—stay home and avoid TV. Who needs to watch Anderson Cooper and some guy getting drunk and mouthing inanities to each other on CNN? Or going to parties to watch and hear the same thing?
We all deserve a much better year than the one we’ve had. Thank you, my friends, for putting up with my drivel, and a truly Happy New Year to all.
and a good new year to you.
The steak and baked potato are cooked perfectly. Good job Chef Juanito!
Sounds like a good Christmas and a good meal to boot! Wishing you a very Happy and Healthy New Year John.
Totally enjoyed this, John. And the two of us here had–steak and baked potato. Hard to beat.
Be it a bad car crash or train wreck, we’re all still here. This may or may not be a minor miracle. Yes to steak and potato! For us, it was the grand Jewish tradition of Chinese food and a movie. We shall see you soon.
All good cheer as this depressing year closes. Change is wafting through the cold winter air here in Virginia. First woman governor will be sworn in. And I leave my cottage on the mountain in Spring. Here’s to resilience for us all.