Christmas Away

And so for just the third time in twenty-six Christmases, I will not be spending it at home. A single tear trickles down my face. But that is life I suppose. An indication that I am becoming older, more independent and for the time being, really far away from home. This is, however, the first time that I will be spending Christmas away from Canada. I can assure you that the holiday season feels much different in this part of the world.

Christmas in Korea gives you the feeling that if your not careful and not paying attention, you may miss it all together. Yes there are a few Christmas trees around and yes the stores do try to capitalize on the western world’s success of exploiting the day into something almost solely based on consumerism, but it just doesn’t have that feel of Christmas in Canada.

Maybe it’s the lack of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton’s famed Christmas duets on the radio, or perhaps it’s a result from the lack of fabulous smells that permeate from my parent’s kitchen during this time of year. I am missing Christmas season cruises, in which the purpose of the car trip, not counting the burning of fuel, is to discover the coolest, strangest and most outrageously decorated houses. My Grandfather was a shoe in for each of these awards when he was alive. God Bless him.

It’s obvious though really. Christmas, without family, simply lacks that main reason why one loves this time of year in the first place. Family customs and traditions evoke memories of past Christmases. All the while new memories are made each year and with them a greater fondness and appreciation for the importance of family grows.

While the feeling is different over here, my love remains constant during this time of year.

Merry Christmas everyone, and for those who I will not see, believe me when I say that I am thinking of you.

Until next time.

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