Oh look… it’s January, 2017… As in, AFTER the holiday season.
No more singing along with Bing Crosby (or tap-dancing with Danny effing Kay,) or indulging in my mom’s fudge or cookies both or Christmas songs on the radio, or Elf-on-the-shelf escapades, or get-togethers with friends and family or staying in jammies all day long just because you can…
I feel as though I have barely blinked, and now it is time to take down all of the holiday cards I looked so forward to finding in my mailbox each day.
Oh the glorious mess.. I even put them on The New fridge!
This year, more than other years even, I seem to have a significant case of the post-holiday blues.
I can’t let it go.
Tonight, after everyone is in bed, I am 100% sure I will sneak over and turn on the Christmas tree lights. I will sit in my cozy Vicki’s Secret reindeer jammies with my hot toddy (hello, first cold of 2017,) in the glow, wondering where the season went.
Oh yeah… soooo twinklehhhh.
I can’t watch TV- flipping to the Hallmark channel to find Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia having reclaimed their nighttime reign from the grips of the 24/7 holiday romance offerings made me shoot the candy cane in my mouth clear across the family room.
They traveled down the road, and back (to Hallmark) again.
In the coming days I will watch the lights being taken down around the town, (granted it happens slower along the Colorado front range where us natives like to leave up outdoor lights until after the National Western Stock Show is over, toward the end of January,) and I will stifle my urge to scream “DON’T GO, HOLIDAYS!”
I can’t hide it, I am having a tough time closing the door on it all this year.
For goodness sakes – it’s becoming a THEME on Instagram for me:
Santa charm still firmly affixed to mimosa, as seen Jan 2nd.
Yep
Even Jr is over me it at this point. Yesterday, on his last day of holiday vacation from school, I took a break from reports on my laptop for some coloring time (we lovey the coloring… I will color with that kid until College if he lets me,) and I busted out the pile of holiday coloring books when he said I could pick the picture.
“MOMMMMM!!! Not those! Put those AWAY! It’s OVER!!”
Poop.
Are you sure?
(He is still letting me watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and my two new favorites from this year: Nina’s Hanukkah Adventure from SproutTV and The Snowy Day from Amazon. For now.)
Maybe it is him getting older, or my parents getting older, or ME getting older (yes, we all do that, Keri;) or Jr being on break for so long and us getting into a new routine, or the sense of uncertainty 2017 is bringing, or missing the family in Texas we didn’t go see this year… or it is just subconscious laziness about putting away the holiday décor.
Maybe, as I used to dread and now pray, I truly am turning into my mom.
The snow falling outside would have seemed festive just days ago…. Now it is just going to make getting Jr to school tomorrow a PITA.
The Christmas sock collection is getting put away, the wreath is down off the door, and laying out a spread of appetizers can no longer pass for dinner (OK lets not get crazy, Keri – that will ALWAYS be dinner at your house.)
Sigh.
Can I just cling? Just through one more weekend… Just until this latest cold/snow snap moves out of the Colorado front range?
Then I promise to bring up the boxes and un-deck the halls.
(But I am keeping the damn coloring books out.)
The stash.
Shhh… they are hidden behind the table by the couch, we have a brand new box of super sharp crayons from Santa if you need to jingle some bells or something to get you through.
No judgment from the girl clinging to her pikes peak blend with 3 pumps of SF peppermint, yo.
None. At. All.
Reluctantly Suburban 
I totally get it. Putting Away Christmas is nothing but sad. I usually build in some special treat for myself as a reward for saying goodbye to all the pretty things and the treats and the holiday specials. But I was too busy and preoccupied to plan a reward this year. Bleh. I say hang on as long as you can!
Maybe I need that- a post-holiday bribe for myself!! I like it!