NORAD tracks Santa
I love the idea of how NORAD started tracking Santa. I think it makes up for all those people who think that telling their children that "Santa" doesn't exist is a good thing.
It is scary to think that the military has more imagination than some so-called well-meaning civilians.
It is scary to think that the military has more imagination than some so-called well-meaning civilians.
*sigh*
I don't like Christmas for all sorts of reasons.
I resent the insistence that getting together with family will mean that wonderful things will happen and everybody will be happy.
I
resent the idea that I am expected to give to those I do not necessarily like, things I cannot necessarily afford.
I am sick to death of Christmas songs because they have been played incessantly for the previous three months (there is just something wrong about the idea of Halloween to the tune of "Jingle Bells")
I resent the insistence that getting together with family will mean that wonderful things will happen and everybody will be happy.
I
resent the idea that I am expected to give to those I do not necessarily like, things I cannot necessarily afford.
I am sick to death of Christmas songs because they have been played incessantly for the previous three months (there is just something wrong about the idea of Halloween to the tune of "Jingle Bells")
The hysteria promoted to "do last minute shopping" brings an inability to behave sensibly to some of the most surprising people ... though chucking a hissy fit at the cash register because you walked away from your filled trolley to get something else and expected it to be there when you returned was the most spectacular and upsetting one I saw this year (so, I needed to buy more videos and yarn to get me through the next two days ... I can only stay online for so long!)
And I really despair of the offerings on the TV at this time of year. There are only so many times one can watch "It's a wonderful life", or "Miracle on 42nd Street" or "Carols by Candlelight from the Domain" without feeling irritated past all restraint.
But I love the idea of "giving" racing round the world tonight dressed in bits and bobs from many centuries. I will continue our family tradition of putting up our (incredibly malnourished and tatty) Christmas tree, with all the ornaments that the children have made or been given over the years - why the poor tree hasn't collapsed yet is something we await with anticipation each year - and hang our enormous Christmas wreath on the door so that Santa, even though he may no longer need to call at our house to relieve the pressure on his sack, is welcome to call in for a little light refreshment and a quick pause on his travels.
So, even though there are many reasons why I don't like Christmas, and only a few are enumerated above, I do like the idea that I have an excuse to make things with love to give to those I love most, and sometimes I remember that at Christmas time, the whole idea of "doing good to others", no matter how it has been adopted or adapted over the years, is one that requires imagination from the most unexpected quarters.
Which is probably why I like the idea that NORAD tracks Santa at Christmas time ... imagination from unexpected quarters.
And I really despair of the offerings on the TV at this time of year. There are only so many times one can watch "It's a wonderful life", or "Miracle on 42nd Street" or "Carols by Candlelight from the Domain" without feeling irritated past all restraint.
But I love the idea of "giving" racing round the world tonight dressed in bits and bobs from many centuries. I will continue our family tradition of putting up our (incredibly malnourished and tatty) Christmas tree, with all the ornaments that the children have made or been given over the years - why the poor tree hasn't collapsed yet is something we await with anticipation each year - and hang our enormous Christmas wreath on the door so that Santa, even though he may no longer need to call at our house to relieve the pressure on his sack, is welcome to call in for a little light refreshment and a quick pause on his travels.
So, even though there are many reasons why I don't like Christmas, and only a few are enumerated above, I do like the idea that I have an excuse to make things with love to give to those I love most, and sometimes I remember that at Christmas time, the whole idea of "doing good to others", no matter how it has been adopted or adapted over the years, is one that requires imagination from the most unexpected quarters.
Which is probably why I like the idea that NORAD tracks Santa at Christmas time ... imagination from unexpected quarters.
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