Hi everyone, I am still here… although I’ve been away for quite a while. Things are wonderful as I head into the holiday season. I did officially end my isolation period of about the past 4 months on the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed myself at a couple of concerts. Live concerts being one of my favourite things in the world. It was great to be out and to see people who I haven’t in such a long time, it was another side of life that I have missed, and I look forward to experiencing it more, in different ways.
For me this time of year is quite exceptional, each day is exceptional but there is “something about Christmas time”. For me it has always been the constant and frequent interaction with family and friends, I have and hope to always will love that part of Christmas. One of my very favourite parts of Christmas is the annual reading of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, which my grandfather Eaton would read every year on Christmas Eve. I don’t remember when this tradition started but it was when I was young and I have never missed a year, being the oldest grandchild. In 1994 the torch was passed and I began to read the Grinch to the “grandchildren”, as my grandfather had passed away earlier that year. I have had big shoes to fill, in more ways than one. Each year we all sit down for the “reading”, and this year, I’m sure many of you are aware, The Grinch came to us in a way unlike any before, as Jim Carey played the grumpy one.
Last week I gathered as many Eaton cousins as possible and we headed in to see the Grinch, and that is much of the reason I’m writing today.
The thoughts that I want to express have been with me since last Thursday, and I have played with them consistently wondering how to send them to you all. They all relate to Christmas, and as usual, to most everything we experience in life.
Having heard the story of The Grinch for as many years as I can remember, and having read it countless times I was quite surprised with my reaction and experience of seeing the big screen version of the story. Now that I have made the time to think about it I’m not as surprised, at it does make sense… perhaps this is why I have waited so long to write to you? Time to think.
The strategic placing of The Grinch had always lead to me relating the story to family, Christmas Eve, Santa Claus, Christmas in general, all the things that are a part of my view of Christmas. But seeing the movie gave me a very different view of the story, and it wasn’t a new view but the view seemed different than any I had had before. And that view is very similar to my view of life in general, and of course, it applies to all 365 days of the year, not just those surrounding Christmas.
It can be summed up with the following caption from the story, which takes place just as The Grinch is about to dump the toys from “Who-ville” off the top of Mt. Crumpit.
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
“It came without packages, boxes or bags!”
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before!
“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store.
“Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more!”
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, enjoy the holiday season and all your favourite parts of it. You may or may not hear from me before Christmas and the New Year. If not have a safe and happy New Year as well.
I’m sure this will be my favourite Christmas yet, hope it is for you as well.
Live Life. Love Life.
Geoff
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