A few friends of mine, myself included, are having trouble getting into the holiday spirit this year. 

I saw my first Christmas commercial on Halloween night which, if you remember, was a pretty long day as it was. Then within a week, I noticed it wasn’t just the one or two rogue families in town who put their Christmas lights out, it was one or two on every block. By Thanksgiving, trees started popping up in people’s windows. We hadn’t even brined the bird yet! Instead of feeling like yuletide cheer came early, it felt more like people had resigned themselves to the inevitability of the next season, like we might as well get this done.

The women I know are tired. Really tired. And, this time of year the days may get shorter as the lists get longer, but somehow it all gets done (except my Christmas cards; with fewer than 20 days to go, I have neither a picture nor a muse) — and that may be the true Christmas miracle.

Of the get-it-done-but-oh-so-tired-miracle-workers I know, the one I most admire is my sister. With three young children and a full-time job, she falls squarely into the “Santa Claus take me away” category. It doesn’t take much for her to make me smile, so you can imagine my peels of laughter when I got this text from her on Saturday:

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On Sunday, she sent this:

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In an ironic twist, my nephew had pulled his stocking down, breaking his stocking holder — the letter formerly known as the ‘j’ in ‘joy.’

So, in just a short 24-hour period we discovered we are not alone — call it a gift of Advent or an antidote to the freakin’ elf on the shelf. We may not be feeling the holiday spirit just yet, but we can rejoice in the fact that we’ve learned the universe is a woman, she’s tired, she speaks yiddish and she has a killer sense of humor. OY!

16 comments

  • Erin

    Great, Jenny!!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Gaites

      Thanks! So much oy…

      Reply
    • Madelyne

      Too funny!

      Reply
      • Jennifer Gaites

        Thanks, Madelyne!

        Reply
  • Linda Magner

    Let us not forget, “Oy to the World”. Oops….you already got that one.
    Talking about sisters that wear you out…..mine is in New Zealand. She not only sent me a Christmas gift that arrived last week, her Christmas card got here Saturday. The elves are working overtime on her behalf and it really pisses me off.
    Forget cards….overrated. Check out: http://www.jacquielawson.com tasteful British sensibilities. All you need is an email address.

    I think this is too long for a comment, but, I love your blog!!!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Gaites

      Thanks, Linda! Oh, that’s some serious high-energy and organization…wait, is she a day ahead of us??? Maybe that’s why.

      Will check out the website, and aim for new year’s greetings.

      Reply
  • Joanne Wurtz

    A favorite expression in our house! Oy!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Gaites

      Mine too. It says it all!

      Reply
  • Elaine L

    Thank you for putting a smile on my face and making me feel like I’m not alone. Oy!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Gaites

      Thanks! Happy to share the oy.

      Reply
  • GB

    Thanks for making me laugh out loud this morning!

    Reply
    • Jennifer Gaites

      Glad to help 😉

      Reply
  • Noel

    Heeheehee… i love it 🙂

    Reply
    • Jennifer Gaites

      Thanks!

      Reply
  • Emily

    Spot on and yes, Oy! I can see trees in neighbor’s windows on all sides of my house. Does Amazon Prime deliver and decorate trees?

    Reply
    • Jennifer Gaites

      That sounds like a successful business idea! (for someone else to execute).

      Reply

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