Festive By Osmosis

Behind for the holidays, saved by the park and the community spirit.

How are we a week out from Christmas Eve and a night before the first night of Chanukah, with all of the other holidays steadily advancing toward us?

I am so very far behind this year on the homefront. Not one card written. A few decorations up, but that's only because last year was so overwhelming that they never came down (that's right - confessions of the year-round holiday displayer).

So I am glomming off the Carl Schurz tree for my holiday spirit. Thank goodness for New York City parks! (Don't forget to support your local park if you are a year-end donor!)

And the office, too - I have colleagues who are far better organized and cheerily festive. We had the lighting of the mini office tree the same night as the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting, organized by one of our team assistants. And she shepherded our toy drive donations. So I did manage to get some toys for that, which were fun to select. I've also gone to the couple of office gatherings, and partaken of the holiday treats and sweets (to the detriment of my waistline).

I saw a classmate yesterday, too, who is still in a rehab facility for a medical issue from last year. I went up with a few others. It is inspiring that he manages to stay in good spirits. We made sure he's decorated for the holidays, so that was a nice step closer to diving in.

Perhaps I'll try to do some holiday postcards tonight. And there's a Chanukah party tomorrow... it's like my approach to summer - dipping my toes in, rather than taking a big leap; it's just how I roll.