Yes, that’s a line from Extreme’s Christmas hit, “Christmas Time Again,” which is prominently featured on A Very Special Christmas, Volume Two. Shout out to those of you whose households also revolved around these Christmas CDs! My earliest Christmas memories involve Extreme and Tom Petty (Go figure.) singing Christmas songs to which I KNOW ALL THE WORDS. My childhood was probably a bit different from yours.
Anyway, merry Christmas and happy holidays and all of that. It’s good to be back at my parents’ house, even though winter is so much more real and present and cold here. All of the children are here — My wonderful, overworked law student of an older brother came in very early this morning — and there’s cookie dough in the fridge just ready to be rolled out and decorated and baked. All my gifts are wrapped and under the tree, so I’m well ahead of the game. Maybe that’s how Christmas is different when you’re an adult. I was kind of wondering what would change this year, and apparently, I am just better prepared.
My new project is cleaning out my room at my parents’ house and getting rid of things. I did this a few times a year throughout high school and college, but I’m still amazed at how much stuff I have. I’m doing my best to get rid of it and keep asking myself, “Is this going to fit into your new grown up life?” The answer is usually no.
I did, however, find some sweet notes written to me by my ex-boyfriend. I gave them one last read and threw them away. It’s kind of sad to do that, and it’s kind of like burning the evidence that I was, in fact, the Best Girlfriend Ever (capitalized for emphasis), but at this point in our relationship — or lack thereof — I don’t really feel I can move forward and be done with it all with that stuff still hanging around. He’s always going to be a part of my life, whether I want him to be or not, but he and I aren’t friends now and probably won’t ever be again. If I’m not even keeping him in my life, why should I keep the stuff? It doesn’t make sense.
It’s a little early for New Year’s resolutions, but I think a metaphorical cleaning of my closet is a good and necessary thing to make twenty-two as wonderful as it should be.
