First Christmas Season in Retirement

Coming off of a sad month of November, I was determined to be ready, be prepared, and enjoy the entire month of December and the Christmas holiday.

So far so good!

Christmas tree up and house decorated, inside and out, by December 1.  That has NEVER happened!  Now granted, some of the decorations didn't make it out of the tubs.  The top of the hutch is still full of pottery instead of Christmas trees and other decor. The Christmas village is still hiding somewhere.  Plus the poinsettias in the blue chair on the front porch have disappeared.

Most of the shopping is finished.  Whoever invented online shopping and Amazon prime free shipping is a genius.  The UPS man has made several stops at our house in the last few weeks.  Only a couple of items still need to be purchased, and a few need to be delivered.  A few stocking stuffers are still needed.  Other than that, shopping is finished.

And the wrapping is done too. I remember taking personal days from West Central just to wrap presents.  I would wrap late into the night.  We used to wrap AFTER the Siemens Family Christmas on Christmas Eve.  I was always exhausted because of all of the wrapping.  Not this year.  Done. 

Christmas cards? I remember addressing them during my Christmas movie series in junior English the days before Christmas break.  Then it would be after all of the final papers were graded and final grades posted.  Last year I barely was able to address cards and send them before Christmas Day.   This year I addressed in one afternoon, stamped all of them and added the return address labels, then folded the letters that Megan printed for me this past Friday and mailed all of them out on either Friday from home or Saturday from the Yaggie mailbox. 

I always have good intentions for homemade or special gifts, but those never happen.  No time.  Good ideas, but not enough time to do anything about them.  The last ten years especially have been rough in that area because all of the papers have to be graded and final grades posted within 24 hours of the end of the classes.  At least when I was teaching high school the grades weren't due until the first days back after the holidays.  This year I made memory pillows for Gary, his sisters and brother, the girls, and Nick, Amanda, and Shelby.  I also made fabric Christmas trees (which still need toppers).  All of the spa cloths I knitted during the Gatlinburg trip last year are paired with soaps for the ladies on Christmas Eve. I am quite pleased that good intentions actually happened. I hope the recipients will be pleased with their gifts. 

I used to listen to Christmas carols in my classroom during tests, during prep, and before and after school.  The last few years I haven't listened to Christmas carols at all except for the random song on the radio.  I have missed that.  This year there has been less television and more music.  One of my favorite things was listening to "Carol of the Bells" by the Trans Siberian Orchestra today while we were making chili and grilled cheese for lunch. What a beautiful song!  Love it! 

Crockpot peanut clusters were added to my Christmas treats list last year.  I have made four batches, all different, so far.  I am ready for gifts for Lindsey, the people at church, the mailmen, the UPS guy the trash guys, and anyone else I can think of who might need a Christmas treat.  Done!  All of the containers are full.  Cookie baking is planned for Monday the 19th when we stay with the kids while Hilary and Blaine celebrate their anniversary.

Also there have been many 'maybe next year we can...' things that I always want to do but rarely do we find the time or the energy to do them. This year some of them happened...

One - going to see The Nutcracker.  Dad loved The Nutcracker and I enjoy the music, plus we have a collection of five nutcrackers on the shelf in the fireplace room.  This year Elizabeth and I went to see the ballet at Butler University, Clowes Hall, her alma mater.  We had an early dinner at Red Robin, saw the ballet with excellent seats, and talked all the way back to Logansport. It was a great evening!

Two - going to the Purdue Christmas Show.  We had first gone to this when Mike was a student at Purdue, then through the years so many other things got in the way, like children needing babysitters, supervising boys basketball games, decorating for Student Council Holiday Dinners, Christmas concerts at school, and girls basketball games.  A few years ago Gary and I went to one, followed by going to IHOP for a late dinner (I had pumpkin pancakes , I remember).  He doesn't remember this, but I do.  I was determined to go again this year, so we went to the Saturday noon performance.  Once again other things are getting in the way (not bad things, by the way), such as babysitting with grandchildren.  Even though Gary balked at first about going, he really enjoyed it.  We plan to go again next year, maybe taking Landon with us.

Three - the Circle of Lights at Monument Circle.  We happened onto this two years ago when we spent the night downtown after Pioneer played in the state football finals on Thanksgiving weekend.  This year they were in the finals again, and we stayed at Home 2 (by Hilton) two blocks from the circle.  We had mentioned it to both Megan and Hilary.  Hilary and Blaine and the kids met us after the Streitmatter Christmas.  After dinner at Hard Rock Cafe, we walked to the circle and enjoyed the lights, the decorations, and the festive atmosphere. Tessa was intrigued with the carriage ride that looked like Cinderella's carriage after it had transformed from a pumpkin.  We plan to go again next year, and we hope that Megan, Matt, and Cooper can join us.

Four - a new tradition was going to the Speedway to see the lights. This was the first year the track and infield were decorated and it was so festive!  We were lucky enough to be among the first in line.  It was a great drive around the track, across the bricks, and in Gasoline Alley.  I think Blaine and Gary were excited when we drove across the bricks. It was a great evening for all of us.  One bit of advice - since the fee is charged per car, it is best to have a full car to get the most for your money!

Here it is, December 12, and I have so many things accomplished.  However, we will be going to Ohio on Wednesday for Mom's heart valve replacement on Thursday and probably won't be back until late Saturday.  Next week will be busy with last minute preparations, then the festivities begin.  At least we will not be rushed, trying to cram in wrapping and last minute shopping and finishing the cards so they arrive before Christmas.

If anyone is reading this, he/she may be thinking that I am boasting about everything I have accomplished so far, and I assure you that is NOT the intent.  I have spent so many years rushing and trying to have everything ready for the holiday that I just cannot enjoy it.  Last year was so horrible with all of the grading that I was looking forward so much to this Christmas season and NOT having to grade anything.  I don't miss the grading, the pleading, and the rush to finish everything so I could just...go....home.  Then I would be so exhausted that I didn't really care.  I just wanted it to be over.

I know that this Christmas will be different without Mom and Dad Siemens. I know how hard it will be to change locations and start some new traditions. I think that is why I am trying to hard to be happy, to be more relaxed, and to enjoy everything to the fullest. 

Who knows?  Maybe I am starting a new trend with the re-discovered excitement about the Christmas preparations.  Maybe this is a one year thing. I just know that I am more relaxed now, and I am enjoying everything so much more. 

Retirement has been a good thing!