Robyn Anderson

I’ve had a downer on Christmas this year. No kids, no tree and even the thought of trying to whip up enthusiasm for a lonely ‘slap-up’ meal for two-and-the-mother, has been hard to do. It’s no surprise to anyone that sending Christmas cards was not on my list. Then one day last week I received a card from my aunt. I was touched by what she wrote. A flicker of Christmas spirit burst into light. I rummaged in the card box and found a card, then before the flicker went out, wrote a note of cheer, attached the peeled off the stamp from her envelope to my envelope and biked up and dumped it in the post. I was really chuffed. If only all Christmas carding could be as joyous – and free. Now because it’s inevitable and I am more of a glass half-full person, I’m sorta/halfpie enthused about making a pav and a trifle and cooking a turkey – albeit a turkey roll (already stuffed) and if I have read the box correctly, drizzled with cranberry juice. I could’ve taken the opportunity to go entirely rogue on the menu but I couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing the 90 year old. There will be alcohol. There will be a few presents, Facebook messaging with everyone and that, I suspect, will be the best part of all. The other day the 6 year old’s toothy grin appeared on my phone advising me there were only three more sleeps left!! That, right there, is Proper Christmas. The wide-eyed anticipation of a mystery. Chloe and her sister are lucky they live on the 7th floor of their apartment because that’s the one right at the top. There’s a clear space for the sled to land and Chloe says she will be lying in bed waiting to hear the hooves on the roof. ‘Me too!’ chimed her little sister. I don’t envy a Santa used to going to bed at 9:30, having to outlast two excited little girls but that’s going to be another Christmas miracle. I won’t be able to hug most of my immediate family but I will be able to see them (thank you technology) and I will not have to do dishes (thank you husband and dishwasher), pick up a tonne of used wrapping paper or negotiate the fine line between saying the right thing and doing the wrong. So despite me thinking I am dismissing Christmas this year, I’m not really.

If my mother can pose with a bear dressed up like Santa and smile…

To everyone reading this, have a great day. Be thankful for what’s right in front of you and when it’s midnight on New Year, let’s all collectively wish for viral annihilation.