As you may know, this holiday season I decided to stop stressing and to just roll with it. It was nothing particularly brilliant, as in the anti-Martha Stewart Christmas quest of one Laura Munson, but I did decide that I don't care what Mr. Wonderful and I do; where I spend the holiday itself; what I get; whether I do the typical Christmas things; what this says about me; etc. This meant foregoing our annual girls' night out to the Nutcracker, a special Christmas celebration with Mr. Wonderful, buying and decorating a Christmas tree with Mr. Wonderful or on my own, going to a Christmas concert, etc. This has been difficult for me, as I love the season and at times have felt as though the world is passing me by, but I couldn't very well commit seriously to spending 90 days not trying to do too much or controlling things while doing the activities I previously mentioned. So, I accepted the decision not to do them.
Relinquishing control like this was incredibly hard to do while in New York on business. Sure, I had to work most of the time and attend the company party, but I also had some down time the first night. Mr. Wonderful met me in town for a few hours the first night (#268), but we found ourselves so drained that we ordered room service. And while staying at an iconic NYC hotel and ordering room service is nice (#269), this did mean letting go of going to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, a show at Radio City Music Hall or anything else holiday-related. So, this was a good test: how would I take note of "the little things" and find my own ways to be grateful and humble -- and, therefore, stay in the Christmas spirit -- while not doing what I would normally expect?
It turned out to be rather easy. Mr. Wonderful and I savored our shared steak, I enjoyed looking out our office window at Central Park and the people ice skating therein (#270), and I walked by the infamous holiday windows at Bergdorf Goodman (#271). My December Daily Day 14 entry includes pictures of those images, and Mr. Wonderful's name is in big bold, magazine-cut-out letters.
On Thursday (December Daily Day 15) my day was consumed by everything related to the office. But this wasn't a bad thing. I was very, very pleased with my year-end review (#272), and I even got a little bonus (#273). And this is on top of the fact that my everyday experience at work is incredibly low-key (#274) and that I really enjoy my bosses (#275). Having lost my job earlier this year, I assure that I am not bragging or taking these things for granted; rather, I'm letting it sink in just how lucky I am to have wound up where I did (#276).
When I got home on Friday night I baked cookies and wrapped my work gifts (#277), so I found myself feeling a little more in the Christmas spirit. My December Daily entry for Day 16 is entirely boring but related to this.
On Saturday Mr. Wonderful and I went shopping for a new but used car for him. We had a nice meal during this excursion (#278), and in the middle of it he stood up, hugged me, gave me a kiss and told me that he loved me, too (in response to me saying it to him). It was a poignant moment in our relationship (and welcome, given that we got in a huge argument the night before), because he then apologized for "being crazy" as of late. "But sometimes I just have to be crazy," he said. "Sometimes I just have to. And so do you." To which we laughed for a full five minutes. My December Daily entry for Saturday, Day 17, is only that statement (#279).
Yesterday I attended a holiday brunch (#280), followed by quality time watching The Family Man with Mr. Wonderful (#281). (More Christmas spirit!) Given that Mr. Wonderful is a part of my daily life and that this wasn't anything particularly special, my December Daily Day 18 entry includes the invite I received for the brunch I attended. I thoroughly enjoyed it and even got a chance to talk to a couple of people about my vague non-profit plans.
And that's about all there is. I think you're caught up. Is there anything I missed (except blogging, that is)?
-Me
PS: Have you read the most recent Sugar at the Rumpus column (#282) yet? If you haven't, you must. She discusses how we should respond to our inner invisible crazy terrible people...