Carol was always the one that made the house look so nice for Christmas. The only real question was what day on the calendar was it appropriate to start decorating and putting up the Christmas tree. I was always in the camp of waiting at least until after we celebrated Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. But the pull was always strong to decorate earlier as we fell deeper and deeper into the trappings of the advertisers, retailers, and Hallmark, who begin their Yuletide barrage even before Halloween (did I just say that out loud?) Or maybe it is just that Carol loved to get the house all dressed up for Christmas and the earlier the better. I never put up much of a fuss though. No need. I knew who the Christmas boss was.
This will be our 9th Christmas in Dementialand. In the first few years after her diagnosis, Carol was still able to do her thing as far as Christmas decorating goes. One of the many things (and favorite things of mine) she used to do was display, all around the house, the many different nativities we had acquired. We had several. Over the years I tried to find new ones in my/ our travels. We had nativities from Israel, Italy, Brazil, Panama, and Ecuador, among others places. Some were full manger scenes, some were just a piece or three.
As the years went by, the responsibility fell to me to do the Christmas decorating. Trust me, you don't want me doing your Christmas decorating. I have no talent for it. But I've tried, at least, to put up our little pencil tree with a few ornaments and some other sparse decorations here and there.
This year has been different. This year I've done nothing. Our kids and grandkids are coming to spend Christmas with us (this is "our" year for Christmas; last year was our year for Thanksgiving.) Our family won't be here for Christmas day though. They will do Christmas morning at their own homes with their kids. As it should be. Kids and grandkids arrive a day or two after Christmas.
But, Carol doesn't even know it is December, much less soon-to-be-Christmas. So, I have done zero decorating this year. It's not because I'm lazy or depressed or anything. It just seems... unnecessary. I've been focused on other things. Of course, I have presents for all four grandkids and they will tear into them when they all get here. And we will feast on a great meal together Saturday. And we will rejoice!
So, is it still Christmas if I don't decorate? I guess that depends on what the holiday means.
Jesus Christ is still Emmanuel... God with us. And we will still celebrate the gift that God gave all of us over 2,000 years ago. I'm pretty sure that God is more concerned with what is in my heart than what is under (or on) my roof.
Christmas isn't Christmas because of anything I do. Or you do. Christmas is Christmas because of what God has done. Jesus is all the adornment we could ever need.
The answer is yes.
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