Christmas 2008, and a new short story
Christmas 2008 was a very tough time for me. Within the space of four weeks, I took hit after hit, from losing my job to being rejected by several people who were very close to me. A close friend died in an accident, and a relationship ended. In the middle of all that, I caught bronchitis, and spent the rest of the month at home, very sick and very alone.
As a child and teenager, Christmas had not been important to me. As an adult, that changed. I had spent each of the previous thirteen Christmases with someone I loved, enjoying the traditions important to that person. This was my first Christmas alone.
There were two things that got me through that period. First, my very dear friend Jens came over and cooked a huge pot of really good soup for me that would last through the week. Second, a mysterious someone, who to this day has not come forward to say "That was me", sent me some DVDs. These two gestures meant so much, particularly as I was so low at the time that I wouldn't have reached out to anyone.
As part of the Christmas euphiction project that I mentioned yesterday, I wrote a story titled A Merry Little Christmas, inspired by the bittersweet Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It reminds me of Christmas 2008, although it comes from a very different place. Here is the start of it.
"Should I put a candle on the table?
We nearly always had a candle, more than one if Danny could get away with it. I never liked candles… I always said that the flickering irritated my eyes, but I actually just found them distracting and impractical. It’s too dark by candlelight. You should be able to see your dinner.
I can see mine now. A sliced turkey breast and some cold ham, roast potatoes. I forgot to buy peas, and gravy was too much bother to make… it all looks so dry.
By candlelight it might look appetizing. I’m not hungry now anyway.
It’s been like this all day. The last few days, even."
Read the rest of the story here
As a child and teenager, Christmas had not been important to me. As an adult, that changed. I had spent each of the previous thirteen Christmases with someone I loved, enjoying the traditions important to that person. This was my first Christmas alone.
There were two things that got me through that period. First, my very dear friend Jens came over and cooked a huge pot of really good soup for me that would last through the week. Second, a mysterious someone, who to this day has not come forward to say "That was me", sent me some DVDs. These two gestures meant so much, particularly as I was so low at the time that I wouldn't have reached out to anyone.
As part of the Christmas euphiction project that I mentioned yesterday, I wrote a story titled A Merry Little Christmas, inspired by the bittersweet Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. It reminds me of Christmas 2008, although it comes from a very different place. Here is the start of it.
"Should I put a candle on the table?
We nearly always had a candle, more than one if Danny could get away with it. I never liked candles… I always said that the flickering irritated my eyes, but I actually just found them distracting and impractical. It’s too dark by candlelight. You should be able to see your dinner.
I can see mine now. A sliced turkey breast and some cold ham, roast potatoes. I forgot to buy peas, and gravy was too much bother to make… it all looks so dry.
By candlelight it might look appetizing. I’m not hungry now anyway.
It’s been like this all day. The last few days, even."
Read the rest of the story here