Season Greetings

It's December. How fast time goes by, huh? It seems only last month we went gift shopping and in a blink of an eye, the end of the year approaches once again.
I quite like this time of the year - yeah, it's cold (unless you just happen to be on the southern hemisphere), but it's quite a pleasing kind of cold. Because you know that even though you're freezing your (sometimes vital) parts off, there is a warm home waiting for you at the end of the street.

I walked home from work today when it suddenly hit me it’s December already. It’s been six days since the start of the month and yet it was only a few minutes ago that I realized were smack in front of New Year’s door.
The day is quite warm and there is still some sun outside, so it didn’t seem like the last month of the year, until I stepped into the center of my town. The lights were twinkling down on me from the trees and rooftops, the shop-windows were full of posters announcing “the end of the year is near, so come in and cheer” (they forgot to mention spend loads of cash, but hey, it’s Christmas time, we can close an eye on that one).
My favorite bookstore is already selling book bundles on ridiculously low prices, my favorite CD and DVD store have pulled the all-time favorite end-of-the-year movies from the attic, and everywhere you turn there are Christmas cards on Christmas cards on Christmas cards. Lucky for me none of my friends celebrate their birthday this time of year, because I’d be in trouble.

I bought some roasted chestnuts from a vendor, smiling at the aroma and the feel of their warmth travelling from my fingers into the rest of my body. There was already an elderly lady selling gingerbread, a man selling ornaments and Christmas lights, and even a little coir (more of a quartet) singing Christmas songs.
I’ve never seen a quartet singing Christmas songs before. As a matter of fact I have never seen someone singing Christmas songs on the street before. It’s too cold even for those, I think.

Yes, it finally hit me that December is here. Right upon us. Beware!

It’s gift time and although I love receiving presents, I quite dislike buying them. Not because of the price, I never buy anything costly beside an occasional perfume for my mother, because I was always taught it’s the thought that counts, what’s in you heart as you buy and give the presents. I dislike buying them more and more recently because I never know what the reaction might be. Don’t get me wrong, everybody is always happy when receiving a present… Well, everybody always looks happy when receiving a present. But there is nothing worse for the giver than to receive a false smile of gratitude in return.
And it’s becoming more and more difficult finding original and meaningful gifts. Once upon a time I used to buy teas, tea pots, tea cups, potpourris, something hand-made… There are less and less stores with hand-made stuff around. We have become obsessed with costly gifts, trademarks, designer clothes and accessories. Once a child was happy when he or she received a toy-car or a doll, now they all have to have the latest PSP, some expensive and hi-tech DVD player or better yet burner, because “everybody else has it, I’m the only loser in class”.

When did it all change so much? Where was I?
Probably in front of a cozy fire, reading a good book, drinking jasmine tea, eating chestnuts and wearing home-made wool slippers.