The Day After…

Our Christmas was lovely. We opened presents. Enjoyed good food and lively conversation. Watched a favorite TV show together. Played a hilarious trivia game. Ate more food…and dessert. And at some point after darkness had long descended our daughters gathered up their stuff and headed back to their condo. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer day.

(Watching my daughters drive away reminded me of my own childhood and that poignant moment on Christmas night when we’d finally load up the car in the dark, achingly cold New York air (usually a bit after 9:00) and drive away from my grandparents’ house after spending the day there. At the tail end, the grownups (grandparents, parents, aunt and uncle) would be in the adjacent dining room playing Pinochle and us three kids would be nestled in the semi-dark living room watching TV and listening to their banter. Back then, my brothers and I never fully realized how special these times were.)

But certainly the next day is a let down. Am I right? There is sooooo much build up to Christmas. All the decorating, cooking, baking, shopping, planning, presents, concerts, church services, carols, cards, family time….and then it’s over. Well not over over. We still have New Year’s eve and day but they don’t have the same cachet. In fact we have nothing planned for either.

Yes, I definitely woke up on December 26th with a SIGH and a gray cloud over my head. The day contained nothing more exciting than packaging a couple of Etsy orders and doing laundry! I should have given myself something fun to do on Boxing Day, like lunch with a girlfriend or going to the movies.

But I didn’t and it’s back to real life and a bit of work. Listed a few things in my Etsy store like this unique folk art wood cross with movable wood marbles. This was part of that big private haul in the fall and I’m still listing things from it.

I also added two small sterling silver English trophies from my personal collection. I’m a big fan of old sterling silver and for a few decades collected antique baby cups, trophies, souvenir spoons, bowls, charms, etc. Most were bought in the early heady days of eBay.

Nowadays I’m trying NOT to collect, but slowly downsize. I recently offered my daughters some family jewelry I’d inherited decades ago. My eldest was happy to take my mom’s 1950s mink/pearl bracelet and earrings while my youngest was happy with the Victorian-era family hair watch fob that she wrapped around her wrist into a bracelet. Better they have them and wear them than they continue to sit in a drawer.

I would love to hear about your Christmas and what you’re doing this week…anything fun??

Karen