24 December 2004
There's a lot of bullshit talked about Christmas.
What it means. What it should mean. What people are expected to do, compared to what they actually do. Rampant consumerism vs guilty charitable posturing.
I just went into the living room to open the curtains, and as I did I saw one of my neighbours.
An elderly lady, she lives in the house directly across from me. Blue rinsed perm, glasses, twinset and apron, there she was, out sweeping her front path. Clearing up leaves, little and muck, sweeping them into a dustpan and then transferring that into a plastic bag, all ready to neatly put in the bin.
She's probably got family coming, and this is just part of her inbuilt cleaning routine, passed down through the generations. It wouldn't occur to me to do it, but times have changed since she was my age.
So I stood at the window and watched her for a bit. Impressed at the energy with which she was going about her task. Then I watched, confused, as she leaned over the wall separating her house from her next door neighbour, peering at their path.
My confusion was quickly cleared away when I saw her pick up her broom, her dustpan and her bag and walk up the path to their front door.
She picked up their doormat, laid it over the wall, and began sweeping their step, carefully pulling the soggy leaves out of the corners. On down the path she went, meticulously clearing the detritus from all the cracks and crannies. Then she bent over the recycling bin and picked up the bits of paper that had escaped, putting them in their rightful place, until the council comes and does their next recycling run.
A few minutes later and their path and drive was neat, tidy and clear of the leaves and assorted junk that had blown in from the road.
They probably didn't ask her to do it. In fact, I'd bet they don't even notice, or if they do, they'll wonder about it for a second, then it'll disappear out of mind. Lost in the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparations.
So it struck me that these days there doesn't seem to be nearly enough giving without the expectation of receiving... and by that, I don't just mean spending lots of money on presents for everyone. I mean just doing stuff because it'll make life easier for someone, or it'll make them smile.
For all the bullshit talked about Christmas, and for all that I don't believe in the religious aspects, if there's going to be one time a year when people think about other people and do stuff, then why not let it be now?
Have a fantastic weekend. Eat, drink and be merry.
Life's too short to do otherwise.
Well said. I don't view this as a religious time anymore, more a time to touch base, and remember that family and friends (close and distant) are the most important thing.
Our good deed will be to pay the toll on the Erskine Bridge for the car behind us. Not much but it always gets a smile (ohhh and cleaning my Gran's kitchen floor tomorrow morning as she's just phoned to say she's dropped some milk....)
Have a good one.
Merry Christmas, Pix.
What a nice little story! Merry Christmas!
What a nice little story. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
The power of selfless giving is often underrated.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas~
Fine words. Merry Christmas!
I hope yesterday was good, Pix, and you're enjoying the festive season!
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