One great thing about the holiday season is that it allows us to have glimpses of fantasy. On the other hand, the bad thing about the holiday season is that we have to go back to reality. Tomorrow I return to work after five days off for Thanksgiving. During that time off, I was able to get a good bit of my Christmas shopping done. Still, I have walked a fine line between getting into the spirit and ignoring real life altogether.
I keep telling myself that in only three weeks, I will be on break again for Christmas. Don't get me wrong, I love my job. I can't imagine what it must be like to have this dilemma for people who hate their jobs. Still, my heart is telling me that it's time to go all out for Christmas, while my head is aware of the stack of compositions to grade, lessons to plan, and finals to write. Sigh.
The dilemma is making me feel like Flick, the kid who is pressured into sticking his tongue on the rusty flagpole...I am one step from the triple dog dare that will cause me to give in altogether. For now, I am compromising - Christmas music and homework. Once I feel like I have made some decent progress, cocoa and decorating will follow. After all, it's the most wonderful time of year...it would be criminal to let it pass by, right?
