This year is on its last, wobbly, legs. Logical sequence of time seems to have been thrown out my window - was it really just 12 months ago that South Africa was put on the Red list, and all travel plans were summarily chucked in the dustbin? It seems much longer really. One of the effects of Covid has been to concatenate time and confuse my memory. But yes, confusing as it is, this year is hammering towards the finish line.
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| Recognise this Angel? |
Which means it is Christmas time. For a variety of twinkling reasons, this is not my favourite season. (Spring is!) To give you an example of exactly how Grinchy I can be, the chore I dislike the most is dismantling the Christmas tree and tidying up the decorations. When the children were little and we all pretended that Father Christmas, elves, snow in 35 degrees, flying reindeer and toilet rolls covered in crinkle paper, were all absolutely believable and necessary this time of the year, Christmas did sparkle and have a magic feeling, because children ooze enthusiasm and sincere belief. I am older and more jaded now, and hearing Jingle Bells and other snowy songs while I trundle around the supermarket in slip slops and the coolest possible clothing, is more irritating than inspiring.
So we are trying something different this year! We are off to be closer to the North Pole and experience a winter Christmas. I am told that a lot of the traditions make more sense in the cold, dark evenings. I will let you know!
If I was the letter writing type and believed in Father Christmas, I would only have one word on my wish list: Enough. I was rereading TS Eliot's "Journey of the Magi" the other day. He talks about the long, rough journey, with men cursing, hostile and unfriendly people, high prices of goods, and sleeping in snatches with voices in their heads saying this was all folly. Relates to our lives these past few covid/ war/ inflation years perhaps??
And when the wise men finally get through all that, they come to the other side to find conditions "satisfactory." I love that word. Somehow we have taken it to mean mediocre - could be better, but originally it meant to make or have enough (Latin for the win.). And enough is just what we need.
Imagine if everyone had enough - food, water, resources, money, happiness, health. It would be such a different world. And I think that may be the intention behind Christmas - that we wish enough for all people all over the world. That would truly be magic. And if Father Christmas can find a special place in his heart for South Africans this year, perhaps he could wrap up some electricity, water, and non corrupt leadership. It's a big ask, I know.
Wishing you all Enough this festive season.
