A Different Christmas

When I was younger, I always thought that an extra special and truly memorable Christmas will come my way. You know, the kind that I will remember till the day I die..

As soon as the month ending in ber, commencing with September, starts, my hopes soared and I could feel the excitement in the air, whether it is there or not, i really don't know. All I know is I feel excited over something that is, I hope, bound to happen! Feed by the songs of Christmas, more particularly PERFECT CHRISTMAS sung by my all time favorite Filipino song artist- Jose Mari Chan, which I, myself, would play on an old cassette tape player, my hope for that extra-special and truly memorable Christmas yet-to-be never dies. Or so I thought...

Now, 45 Christmases later, am still waiting and the wait has turned that bellowing hope in my heart into a mere ember. The funny thing is, tried as I might, I could not seem to fan it back to the burning flame that it was before. Waiting must have caused its terminal state. Soon the wisdom of age will contribute to its dying a natural death.

Maybe it is for the best. Just so, I could set my sights on something else. Say for instance, instead of waiting for that extra-special and truly memorable Christmas to happen, I can channel my efforts to the task of making it happen myself.

This Christmas 2008 will be a good time to start. I will no longer wait for that extra-special and truly memorable Christmas to happen. Instead I will work to make it happen. This forthcoming Christmas will be different for me and for those who will come my way on the most special day of the year.

I will make Christmas 2008 (and all the Christmases of my life) extra-special, truly memorable and different! The thought is not only exciting but very empowering. Here's how I will go about making it happen. I will call the following My Christmas Must-Do List:

1. I will smile. I mean really smile, sincerely and heartily, and keep smiling for the entire Christmas day, (a feat, it you know me);
2. Watch the sunrise and sunset on the same day, if it is at all possible;
3. Fast for a day- Christmas day- no less;
4. Read my favorite PSALM 91 at the top of my lungs. That's what a shout-out is supposed to be, right?;
5. Make a vow- complete with three lighted candles and on bended knees- to be less angry with myself and with the world for not owing me a living I haven't earned;
6. Attend church and this time really listens to the sermon of the priest, whether it is relevant to the gospel read or not, and no matter how sleepy it will make me;
7. Pray for those people generous enough to give me present. Usually there are only two or so, so I could even say an entire Holy Rosary for each of them, no problem;
8. Spend time with my family and while they're feasting on the food I have prepared, I will be tracing our family's roots, to keep me from eating with them. I did say I will fast, right;
9. Daydream just a little bit. Say a minute of two, without mentally kicking myself for being so gullible;
10.Start a tradition of not waiting for anything or anybody, for that matter. So, those who think that being late is fashionable, well not in my party, you don't. You must come on time or you'll find yourself just on time for the washing of the dishes!

Here's wishing you all an extra-special, truly memorable and different Christmas 2008.