Home alone for Christmas
As much as claim atheism, anti-clericalsim and anti-commercialism, I'm oddly sentimental about Christmas. Granted, I've been griping about it all month, but now that it is here, I want it to be good.
Unfortunately, a number of contingencies have prevented my hoped-for event. Three of my family are or have recently been in hospital because of injuries or surgery, and the logistical burdens of this gathering have fallen on my brother's family. There's just no room at the inn, so I'm at home tonight, for the first time in my life.
I like liminality, as anthropologist Victor Turner described, and I don't get enough of it. Christmas is a major liminality event, and being at home reduces the liminality.
I'm not sure what I'll do Christmas Day. Perhaps go to the movies? I certainly don't want to see "Dances with Smurfs in Space," but "Sherlock Holmes" or the new Terry Gilliam look good.
Unfortunately, a number of contingencies have prevented my hoped-for event. Three of my family are or have recently been in hospital because of injuries or surgery, and the logistical burdens of this gathering have fallen on my brother's family. There's just no room at the inn, so I'm at home tonight, for the first time in my life.
I like liminality, as anthropologist Victor Turner described, and I don't get enough of it. Christmas is a major liminality event, and being at home reduces the liminality.
I'm not sure what I'll do Christmas Day. Perhaps go to the movies? I certainly don't want to see "Dances with Smurfs in Space," but "Sherlock Holmes" or the new Terry Gilliam look good.