Merry Christmas

So the time of year is here that we celebrate being alive and having people around us who care.  We give symbols of friendship to each other that we all enjoy (even if we don’t) and look forward to the look of satisfaction on the beneficiary’s face that releases all the stress we went through to choose, wrap and present.  We visit family and/or friends on the day and eat all their food from the table, fridge and pantry and drink everything that is liquid.  Alternatively, they come to us and do the same.  Then we all know that we go to bed that night in a food coma.

I used to find this time of year depressing.  False sentiment and the stress that goes into making the day successful used to make just want to shut myself away, come out for the day, help clean up and then hide away again waiting for the first ball of the Boxing Day Test and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht race.  Now, I try to embrace the day, enjoy the smiles and enjoyment of others but still struggle to find enjoyment.  This year is a little different.  More about that later, but I am looking forward to the day.

In my time in the Military, I did a lot of Christmas’s away from home.  Remembering that I left my family when I was 17 and moved from a small country city to the bustling Metropolis of Melbourne, then Sydney and then Perth.  This was interspersed with times at foreign ports for Christmas and whilst this may sound glamorous, without family and other ideals of how Christmas should be spent, I found it quite depressing.

Having said that, this time of year also allows us to wind down a bit normally and recharge the batteries.  It is when I think most of the Emergency Service Workers, Aid agencies like the Salvos and even the guy at the Servo who sells us the Ice on Christmas Morning to keep out beers cold.  I also remember (what seems like a century ago) spending a Christmas in Singapore, working Christmas Day but having a lunch put on for us down in Sembewang (The Wang).  Those who had been duty on the day were provided a free lunch and the first two beers for free as well.  We had a great day, that as per usual went into the next day and culminated in organising a NYE bash down there as well.  This is where I first worked out that I can say most things in the right way and not offend and the comment can be taken the way it was intended as fun.

I asked the Kiwis that we were with if the opening line of the Haka (the spine tingling War Chant of the Maori) started with Cup Of Tea, Cup of Tea, White and Two.  Not what is sounds like as Kamati, Kamati……..   The “large” Maoris in the bar, picked me up and put me on a hat hook by my shirt and left me there for the night.  Now I know it was taken in good humour, because they kept bringing me beers.

I have found that having children around shows me the excitement that should come with the Fella in the big red suit.  I don’t really remember Christmas as a kid.  I remember some daggy presents (The Sinatra Family Christmas Album), but not the day.  My wonderful wife is still trying to help me understand the excitement of the day, but still shakes her head.  Bugger me, I even put up some lights this year.  Both Adelle and Ashleigh don’t like it when I ask them to pull the tree down on NYE.  Don’t bring the old into the new, I say.

Got to finish up.  Unfortunately the Parky’s is kicking in and I am having trouble typing. To anyone reading this enjoy your time of year that this is, Celebrate your God and goodwill to you all.  This is cleansing for me and I hope that soon you will get an insight to what has made me want to write this.

Ho Ho Bloody Ho……..

Author: youngysyak

I am ex Military, diagnosed with Parkinsons and use the Blog to "Cleanse" and try and get some of my old stories out. Too many to forget. View all posts by youngysyak