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Yikes! Planning for the Holidays

Each year around the time of the first frost, when we realize that winter is truly upon us, the same questions arise around our house about how to spend the holidays. What to do? Where to go? His mother’s? My father’s? Stay home? Mexico? (my preference).

We strive for a consensus, knowing that, inevitably, someone’s feelings may be hurt. We throw all the pros and cons into the hat. My husband’s mother lives in an elder-care facility in the Netherlands. A trip to visit her requires three round-trip plane tickets, a hotel stay, and no Christmas tree. Expensive and not very cozy or holiday-ish. (Plus we had a long visit with her this summer — my two cents.)

My father lives in a small house in northern California. A trip there means packing summer clothing as though we were actually going to Mexico (my father likes to keep the heat at around 80 degrees or so), as well as winter clothing for spending time outdoors. It also means the couch for my son and countless games of Yahtzee. (Plus, I did just visit him for a week in the fall — my husband’s two cents.)

We could, of course, stay home. Doing that means we could decorate a tree and bake cookies — very holiday-ish. It also means we wouldn’t have to pay (I’m embarrassed to say how much) for our two dogs to stay at the local doggy B&B, as we’d never put them in a kennel. Of course, staying home might also be kind of lonely, without family or those close friends who will be reclining on the beach in Mexico.

This year, in the midst of the usual deliberations, we ended up making a spontaneous decision, thanks to some friends who were over for dinner and who aren’t going to Mexico. We’re combining a business trip to New York with a holiday visit to our friends’ house in Vermont. This means a tree (which I won’t have to de-decorate and dispose of); a potentially white Christmas; shopping in New York (big on my list of holiday activities); and a long, cozy visit with good friends. And we found house sitters to stay with the dogs. So, the pros of this decision outweigh the cons, and the plans are finally made. But…next year? Who knows.
Whatever tradition you celebrate, and whatever you do or wherever you go, we at Seattle Woman wish you the happiest and warmest of holidays.

Karen Matthee
Editor & Cofounder

©December 2006 Caliope Publishing Company