The Ghost of Christmas Past

Another Christmas has come and gone. We're now embarking into my least favorite time of year. It's not my intention to complain, so stick with me. I'm just ready to skip ahead a few months to get to more interesting holidays and celebrations. Fall is the best time of year for me. I love cooler temperatures and long sleeves. The smell of chimney smoke and falling leaves. But that's now in the distant future.

And Fall ends in the best way. Christmas!

I could live Christmas every day of the year. Yes, I'm like Buddy the Elf when it comes to Christmas. I get excited when store aisles get cleared out every July for school supplies. Because following school supplies is Halloween costumes. And following Halloween costumes is Christmas décor.

I love the lights. The sounds. The smells. The joy. The kindness. Although I did notice those last two lacking a bit this year in the rush and bustle. But with something as simple as plugging in a string of Christmas lights, all the tension melts away, and I can dream of Santa and snowmen.

Of course, I do know the real meaning of Christmas, and I cherish that just as much.

This year was particularly special. I introduced my six-year-old to The Nutcracker Ballet this year. The ballet has always been special to me. My dad was a stereo nut. He had a huge system with speakers taller than me. He is responsible for my love and knowledge of classical music. His LP collection could put many to shame. He had one LP that I treasured--The Nutcracker Suite on one side, and Peter and the Wolf on the other. Conducted by the great Leonard Bernstein. When my dad pulled that out, I knew we were in for a treat.

I saw the ballet for the first time in 1985. My mom took me around Thanksgiving. When we returned home, we learned my grandfather had had a stroke that would soon result in his death. And although that might leave a bad taste in some people's mouths, the beauty of the music and the ballet overcame the sorrow that accompanied that day.

I got to stage manage the ballet with the Anaheim Ballet when I worked for Disneyland. What a dream come true! The lighting and costumes were beautiful, and the dancers were phenomenally talented. My lasting memory of that? Tumbling down a flight of cement stairs from the booth. I still have scars from scraping my hands.

Perhaps that's why I love the ballet so much. I severely lack the grace of a dancer.

But this year, I was determined to make a very special night for a very special girl. I started by purchasing a Nutcracker figure. They're in every store now, so that was easy. I wrapped him up and found a basket for him to live in. We went to dinner before the performance, and I gave her the present. She held it all night long! Being her first trip to a real theatre, I explained the lights and the stage. When the ballet started, she was enthralled. It was perfect!

And beyond that, after years of loving this story, I've come up with the neatest idea for a book! I don't wish to disclose much at this point, as it's in development, but I'm really excited about it. If I can pull it off, I think it will be a really intriguing story. I'm going to give it a whirl, anyway.

So now that we're into the season of resolutions and new beginnings, I'm jumping on the bandwagon. I have revisions to work on for Once Upon a Heist. That turned out to be super fun, and I can't wait to share that one with the world. I have the Crown's Call to work on. And this new one to write. And of course, there's work and momming duties.

24 hours in a day, and another 353 days until next Christmas. May as well make the best of what I've got.