I live in a country that really doesn't care for Christmas and I'm married to one of these people from this country that doesn't really care for a holiday I love so much.
Consider that two strikes against me when it comes to working up a festive mood.
On Tuesday when members one-by-one left the club, almost every single one of them had wished me a Merry Christmas and I really appreciated that because I knew no one on my husband's side of the family would be doing so. I was right. Mama Kim had a Christmas cake yesterday but it sat in her fridge and she was so confused as to why we'd go to church on a Wednesday night. It was just a Wednesday night though, it was a special night. It was Christmas Eve.
I love holidays and not in the fact that holidays like Christmas are accompanied with a day or two off work. I love holidays for the sake of having something to look forward to, something to celebrate, something to get excited about and do something special for. Snickers doesn't care for holidays and he, like so many men who all deserve a special holiday round-robin kick to the head, always says "why have a special day when every day is special?!" I argue if everyday is special than why don't I get a gift or even so much as a "congrats" or "hooray" every morning if everyday is special? Exactly, because that line is every cheap, lazy man's excuse out of having to put forth any kind of extra effort for the holidays.
I went all out this year for Snickers' gift. I prepared two for him actually. They hadn't arrived in time for Christmas so I drew up this big picture on the white board we just got the other day to tell him. I added several pictures of us from all our previous Christmas celebrations and then typed up a sweet love letter. The first gift I prepared for him took me about four months to prepare. It's a picture book showcasing the planning, the renovations and the opening of Hulk's, leading up to the end of 2013. A little while ago our computer had crashed and so it was quite the struggle trying to retrieve such photos from past Facebook posts, my personal homepage and email attachments but I managed to do so and do it secretly. It wasn't easy, especially considering I spend most of my waking hours with Snickers and he uses the same computer too. I used a specific website that I've used before and so now I'm waiting for them to print the book and send it to Snickers.
As for my second gift, I ordered a personalized coffee cup. It's got the picture of the Hulk on one side and then Snickers' name and "coach" written on the other side.
Snickers didn't get me a Christmas gift but then again I knew he wouldn't. He's never given me a Christmas gift or a birthday gift for that matter. He has thrown me a surprise birthday party once but even then, everyone but him brought me a gift. I'm over it but there's always that hope I have that this time he'll surprise me.
Two years ago today my dog Pacquiao came to live with me forever. Pacquiao wasn't exactly a Christmas present but I vouch he's the best thing I've ever received on Christmas. He was only supposed to stay with us for a week, so I could nurse his foot back to health, and then he was supposed to go back to K-Gere. But when K-Gere got sick and decided he couldn't take back Pac as we all had expected him too, Pacquiao was then homeless again. I had already fallen in love with him and, well, Snickers really couldn't bring himself to take him away from me -- Pac followed me everywhere and even slept on my chest. We were inseparable... and still are. So I didn't receive a Christmas gift from Snickers this year, that's ok, and I only got one Christmas card this year, that's ok too. I know Christmas isn't about all the gifts but who you celebrate it with so I am thankful that I have Snickers and our 3 four-legged friends to celebrate it with today but I miss how and what Christmas used to be for me, a time of family and overdose of friends, fresh baked cookies in the kitchen and a bombardment of Christmas decorations in the house. Last year I had vouched that it'd be my last Christmas in Korea, that I'd be spending this year's Christmas in Canada with friends and family. Two much needed heaters later and well, that trip no longer could happen. I tried to stay positive today but it was rather rough, I'm not going to lie. It was another Charlie Brown Christmas in Korea.
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