
It's a stressful time as well as a happy one, with images of perfection to aim for, maybe some family member too far in the distance geographically or emotionally to connect, too much emphasis on shopping for the ultimate gift and calculating the cost, and too much planning. Do you ever feel it's become a little too... well, too Christmasy? That somewhere in the glitz and the chaos, we're missing the joy of Christmases past?
That's how Bella feels in All's Fair In Love And Arson when she arrives home in St. Christopher to help her mother. She's looking for the meaning of Christmas hidden under the layers of sparkle and glitter.
If you need some down time in your preparations, pick up a book and get lost in someone else's story. It's the perfect way to ground yourself in the midst of turmoil.
Or find a quiet spot in your home to listen to some music, something from long ago that soothes your soul. Lay out a jigsaw puzzle. Do a crossword. Relax. Perfection is boring. The best holiday stories told round the table celebrate past disasters. And sometimes the most perfect Christmases arise from the least prepared or looked forward to.