Dear Readers, Do you ever find yourself in a bipolar- like funk around the holidays, or is it just me? It’s a mix of childlike glee marveling at Christmas lights and enjoying carols, yet I also feel a bit like the Grinch. I mean, how many times can we listen to Mariah Carey in a single month? And this comes from a gal who flew to Oakland, Ca., just to see Lionel Richie perform with special guest Mariah Carey. She’s certainly impressive, but it’s a lot. Still, let’s give her credit — creating a Christmas album was a brilliant move for her bank account, so I certainly don’t fault her. However, I think we all know there are plenty of other Christmas albums that could be included in the store playlists.
I know that some folks put up their tree before Halloween and some before Thanksgiving, but for me, the tree should only be erected in December. This year, I splurged on a tiny pink Christmas tree for €4.95, and that might very well be the extent of my decorations.
Last year, I went all out with white paper chains and snowflakes adorning my sonless apartment, in the way that Will Ferrell’s character decorated all the spaces in the movie, “Elf.” These homemade decorations indeed brought me joy, and it bolstered my holiday spirit so much that I hosted a Christmas Eve dinner for a medley of international expats living in Portugal. It’s a memory I'll cherish forever, but this year, I’m feeling ‘meh.’ Maybe hanging stockings could potentially lift my spirits…perhaps we’ll never know.
