A Different Christmas

2020 Has Not Been Kind

Christmas is only a few days away. Normally I would be excited and well into a month full of classic Christmas films, newer Hallmark Christmas films (yes, I know, leave me alone), and purchasing a couple of cool new ornaments. Instead, my family and I are staying with my parents and waiting for our home to be restored after being destroyed by Hurricane Laura. I’m staring at my mom’s Christmas tree wondering if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ornaments that we’ve had for a few years now survived the hurricane because they, along with a ton of other nerdy Christmas ornaments, were stored in our attic which was flooded by the rains from both Laura and Hurricane Delta. I haven’t been able to get up there long enough to check on the few boxes that we have left up there. I lost both an aunt and an uncle during all of this mess as well.

I’ve been listening to Christmas music since before Thanksgiving hoping that it would somehow brighten my spirits. I’ve only recently been able to return to church now that work is finally starting to allow us to take off a day or two a week yet I sit in the pew distracted. I’m completely detached from Christmas this year. I’m lost. I don’t know what to do in order to right this ship.

Despite all of this, I know that there are plenty of other people out there struggling with much bigger problems than mine. Yes, I’ve been working twelve hour days since Hurricane Laura hit, but at least I’m working. My family has a roof over its head. We have enough money to provide presents for ourselves and others. We aren’t starving. We aren’t desperate for any immediate needs.

Still, I’m very depressed this year. Normally I would make a nerdy Christmas list around this time, but this year I’m going to say only one thing:

I love each and every one of you and I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas. If you are going through tough times, call or reach out to someone. Talk to them. Cry if necessary. Get your issues out in the open.

Thank you for reading this brief post. May God bless each and every one of you now and in the coming year.