#296 Spend Christmas with My Friends
Christmas for me used to be something special. Like every kid, it was a magical time. I’ve always liked not knowing things more than knowing them. All those wrapped presents. Anything could be inside. The anticipation is what makes that amazing. I guess that’s why I love David Lynch. His movies are like presents that even when you unwrap them, you still don’t know what the fuck they are.
But as I grew up, Christmas gradually because less important. Eventually at home, we stopped putting ornaments on the tree. It was just lights and only white lights at that. The number of presents we got shrunk until we were only getting a few gifts each. There were less things I really wanted or cared to get at all.
When I wasn’t living at home, Christmas basically lost all meaning. There was still that lingering obligation to get my family members presents but there wasn’t much meaning behind them. Money from my parents and gift cards from my sister. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I still appreciated the gifts but there was no magic left.
Of course when I happen to have a girlfriend during Christmas, some of that magic comes back. It’s a cool time to spend with a significant other. What’s more romantic than Christmas lights and presents?
This year, there is no girlfriend. I was planning on spending Christmas just relaxing and writing SYED.. alone. I’ve done it before. But when I do, much like Thanksgiving, I tell people, “Oh, I’ll probably just see some friends” because otherwise people give you weird looks.
But after last night’s lonely and sobering experience and my goal to do scary things that epitomize the holidays, I decided to reach out to my friends to spend Christmas with them. Sure I may get rejected. Wouldn’t they have asked to see me if they wanted to? It’s always my biggest fear. But if they’re your friends, shouldn’t you be able to trust them?
Everybody I reached out to was able to see me. I talked with my sister in San Francisco in the morning. I ended up having brunch with one friend. Went to another friend’s to drop off some cookies and hang out for a bit. Then I finished the night playing some dominos and having drinks with my good friends in Simi Valley. It’s one of the best Christmases I’ve had in a long time.
I guess, maybe when you get older, Christmas magic isn’t about presents, it’s about spending time with the people you love.
But really good presents help.
