Christmas spirit

Lately, I’ve been cracking jokes about how oooooolld I am at the age of 23.  It consists of two parts whole-hearted joke and one part regret.  So, there is at least some truth to it.  I guess it has something to do with how I thought I would be at a different place when I turn 23.  I mean this is my mid twenties!  I assumed that I would be on my way, or well in the midst of, being a yappie.

What’s a yappie you say?  Well, I’m glad you asked!  It is similar to a yuppie, also known as a young urban professional.  However, here’s the kicker, it stands for young asian professional.  I know, I know.  It is catchy.  But, its trademarked, so don’t even think about using it without giving credit.  But otherwise, feel free to spread it like wildfire.

On the other hand, it’s all good.  Although I might not be where I would have thought, I am definitely not where I was.  When I was younger, this time of year would bring about feelings of self-pity and embarrassment.  Self-parrassment, if you will.  See, my family has never been Christian.  Thus, Christmas was rarely celebrated at the Tung household.  The whole, not believing in Christ deal, makes it hard to celebrate “Christ”mas.  Actually, few know, but Christmas means “Christ more” in Spanish.*  Hence, when everyone else had lights and trees and presents, I had my foolish no-present, empty handed self-pity.

But there was a singular time when my Dad gave the Christmas spirit a shot.  This is when the self-pity turned into self-parrassment.  As you can imagine, having never done it before, my pops was not actually any good at Christmas decorations.  He did not enjoy the fortune of watching generations before him practice the art that is Christmas lights.  So, instead of this beautifully luminescent home, we had a hot mess.  Let me tell you.  First, he didn’t buy quite enough lights.  So when he tried to string our front lawn’s tree, it went up the trunk and only the west side of the leaves.

Then, we never figured out how people used extension cords for their bushes.  So he decorated the bushes, but only the ones near the window.  That way, you saw our bush precisely and evenly circled with multi-colored lights.  But, a stray set of bulbs would flow away from the bush, into a window.  If you walked inside, you’d know that it lead from the window, straight into our wall socket.

Meanwhile, this would be fine, if my house was tucked away in a remote part of town.  But as luck would have it, it sat on the corner of the main road that everyone, north of my high school, took to get to class.  Yessir, that’s right.  I was the kid with the half tree and the bush on a leash.

But, that was then.  And now, I’m 23.  My self-parrassment has melted away.  It has very clearly been replaced with fondpreciation.  If you had guessed that word meant fondness and appreciation, then whew, you are goood.   I see now, that my dad did that for the family.  He gave it a shot because he thought we would like it.  He put away his old ways and ventured something new, strange, silly, and odd.  For us.

Also, I now know, that even if someone else’s family has the largest most excessive display of decorations paired with highly elaborate gifts and traditions, their memories of Christmas are no sweeter than mine.  Because, at 23, I can tell you that the Christmas spirit is not about what or how your family celebrates, but that you have family to celebrate.

All in all, I’m not a yappie like I thought I’d be, but I am glad that I am wiser than I was before.  So, I’m good.

*Just kidding, jeez you really thought it meant that in Spanish? a hyuk hyuk hyuk : )

-frankiet

Tis the Season to be Giving

But giving what??

I just thought it was a very well done video and refocusses me on what the holiday season is about.

handsomehwang