How is it Christmas Eve already?
Time is really passing quite quickly these days. It’s weird because it doesn’t really FEEL like Christmas. Maybe it’s because for the first time in my life, I haven’t had any vacation leading up to December 25th. I’ve had co-ops during December, but they were so slack leading up to Christmas that it didn’t really feel like working. This year it’s been busy up to last Friday, where productivity in the office basically went to zero as Christmas tunes blasted through the speakers of a co-worker. Or maybe it’s because I got my shopping done early this year (for relative values of “early” not including “Aimee early” because Aimee is nuts). Managing to avoid the crazed shoppers at the mall was a big plus this year.
Another thing was that the house wasn’t decorated this year for Christmas beyond a few lights strung up outside. My mom’s heading to Hong Kong tomorrow and my sister’s heading off to Peterborough to do her PhD on Wednesday. Not really much point to decorate this year, although I did miss putting all that stuff up with the family. Despite the different random stacking algorithm used each year to get stuff in and out of the crawlspace, it was almost fun at times. Of course, the decorating part was always better than the “dammit, how’d all this stuff FIT in there???”
With all the coming and going, members of my family leaving for different parts of the planet, I managed to still observe the effects of the movement of life. My parents, understandably, are worried about my sister as she moves to the other side of the country for a nontrivial amount of time. They’re also worried about leaving me alone for a few weeks. They do, however, need this vacation and I also need to learn how to fend for myself for some extended period. How else am I ever going to move out and survive? This bout of worrying has really shown how much I am their son though. They worry a lot. So do I. Those that know me best know how I overworry at times, whether it was about school, family, friends or general life. Realizing just how much I’m like my parents is comforting and scary at the same time. Comforting in the fact that some of my quirks are indeed genetic and not my fault and scary in that one is supposed to turn into one’s parents at a far later age than my current age of 23. I guess my point in this overly long ramble is that Christmas puts some kind of perspective on life and family.
The other night I also had a random mind wandering back to high school as I stared out of the car window heading back from my aunt’s place. It was an odd time for a recollection of that point in my life; I even traced through various ups and downs and their effects on my person. Looking back, I’d really like to punch my high school self in the face if I could. Man, I was a whiny little twit back then. I sure as hell am glad I’m no longer in that phase of my life anymore. Still, from what happened then, I definitely learned how NOT to be a little shithead. My worries then seemed pretty trivial now, and I have a feeling many of the worries I currently hold will just end up be a case of overworrying and things will work themselves out. Just need to have a little faith, right? And no, I’m not about to bust out an impersonation of George Michael. If you didn’t get that joke, shut up and stop making me feel old.
After the airport back and forth is over this week, it’ll be a prep for New Year’s. Thinking about the past year, trials and tribulations…it’ll either reshape my outlook on life, like it does most other years, or just drive me crazy. I haven’t decided which yet, but it should be interesting.
I suppose I’ve bored many of you to tears with that. Sorry, nothing really exciting happening at the moment. To make it up to you, please watch this Weird Al interview with Kevin Federline. Merry Christmas everyone.