Clyde Moore: Christmas, already?

Is it just me, or was this year a blur?

I no longer feel comfortable saying “as slow as Christmas.” Its speedy arrival has had me contemplating the words of the great American philosopher George Carlin. He had a bit he did about getting older. As he explained, the process of aging one year when you’re a child goes by oh so slowly — birthday, summer, July 4, Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Of course, he said all of this very slowly, accenting his point. But if you’re one of the lucky ones, those who live a long, full life, the passing of time eventually ends up like this: birthday, birthday, birthday! And @@that@@ is said quickly, just as this year has seemed to me.

Is it just me, or has someone hit the fast-forward button? I may need a neck brace for that whiplash feeling in my neck. The first part of the year didn’t seem unreasonable, I guess. But we hit July 4 and it’s been a slip ‘n slide to year’s end. And for any youngsters out there, “Slip ‘N Slide” specifically references a simplistic toy involving water, a long strip of plastic and outdoor grassy patches from decades gone by. Back then we called video games “Atari” and so many years later I still want a T-shirt with the logo. Time passed by more slowly then. Or, so it seemed.

Christmas, the whole period from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve, is surely the most significant mark on any year. Fitting, I guess, that it comes last. It’s that grand finale at the end of any good fireworks display, the time when the ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhhs’ are plentiful and flow with little notice.

Fixated on the whole passage of time thing, I began thinking back to my own memorable Christmas holidays. I was surprised which ones immediately came to mind, and others that didn’t. It took me a few moments to think of the one in the mid-’80s when my parents gave me a car. We went over to our friends’ house where it waited for me in their garage, a large red bow on top. That was an awesome Christmas, no question. I wonder, though, if it might not be one my mother would think of sooner than I did, because the Christmases that first came to mind were the ones in which I’d given someone else something special.

I remember giving my mother a lot of clothes in the late ‘80s after she’d lost a lot of weight. I thought of giving my father a stereo and a great leather jacket. I remembered in 2000 giving my parents a trip to Europe, the looks on their faces as they pieced the puzzle together and then the stories they shared after they were home.

Kids think some funny, weird things. When I was a kid I was convinced that when my mother wrote a check, she was creating money. That innocence and, I guess, ignorance, is part of what makes this time of the year that much more magical. Santa Claus can fly all around the world with magical reindeer handing out toys after passing up and down chimneys. Men made of snow can laugh and sing, just the same as you and me. A reindeer with a nose that glows can not only fly, but save Christmas by being a beacon through inclement weather.

I know I’ve mentioned my trip to India a few times, a reminder to myself how impactful it was on me. One of our first stops was to be the Elora and Ajanta caves. Before the visit I thought spelunking in India seemed an odd stop. I was that much more amazed when it turned out the “caves” were temples carved from mountainsides throughout many generations. I think of that now when I’m in a rush, or see others in one. We want everything today, or better yet, yesterday. These people began things they knew neither they nor their children would ever see completed. Personally, that would never work for me. Yet, I appreciate a people who had such dedication and commitment, and the staggering beauty of what they created.

This year has seemingly flown by. And the modern day Christmas experience is often all about rushing here and there to buy this gift, to attend that event, to see something, do something. We do so much rushing we often forget to stop and take it all in, and to appreciate the here and now to ensure it is well remembered and reflected on later.

Last year at this time I was operating The Attic upstairs at Downeast. I came out of the store one night, was headed across Central Park to my car, but at the Emily fountain turned to look back at Park Avenue and its lights, brightening in the increasing darkness. I was so taken with what I saw, I turned around and began a more than two hour walk up and down the street simply taking photos of the store windows, the white lights hanging at intersections, the large lit Christmas tree in the park, the fountains, the insides of some restaurants. It was an unexpected little piece of magic that I am now, almost a year later, happy to reflect on, to know it took just a few hours to view the world again with a little bit of magic. I plan to look for similar opportunities this year.

Thank goodness, Christmas! I thought it would never get here.

Local Luv'n Local

Artistree Gifts in College Park offers local art from a wide variety of local artists, including Kimberly Brown-Turner, who paints animals, flowers and other still-life scenes. In addition, Artistree is now offering art classes, including ones taught by Kim. Call them at 407-999-5251 or check out their website at artistreegifts.com or Facebook page for upcoming events.

Clyde Moore operates local sites ILUVWinterPark.com, ILUVParkAve.com and LUVMyRate.com, and aims to help local businesses promote themselves for free and help save them money, having some fun along the way. Email him at [email protected] or write to ILuv Winter Park on Facebook or Twitter.