A lovely holiday

The mad rush (for presents) is over. The mad rush (to enjoy the rest of the holiday season) is on.

As one gets older, one discovers there are several ways of enjoying holidays. In the end, it is one that suits your needs the best that is the only one that really matters.

One friend of mine told me he was taking three hours each morning this week and next and simply devoting it to himself. If he wanted to read a book, he would. If he wanted to sit with his dog on his lap and stare at the lake while listening to music, he would. No interruptions would be allowed. Things could wait until noon when he would be happy to interact with all interested parties.

Another went to Florida to spend 10 days with the family. This person likes her life in the Twin Cities and the job that goes with it. However, no matter how often one communicates with family on the phone and over the internet, there is a need for face-to-face contact. When this person returns to town next week, I suspect she will do so with a smile on her face, a relaxed heart and plenty of memories to keep her going until the next trip.

Another friend of mine is hurting this holiday season over the end of a longterm relationship and all the ugly ramifications and sideshows that go with it. No matter how often one goes through it (whether it happens to you or someone you care about), breakups sting. Each of us recover in our own way. Words of comfort that are well intended often fall on deaf ears because the person involved simply isn't ready to move on. So, the person in question here simply withdrew into a cocoon, choosing to spend the holiday alone. This may not sound like a great way to spend the season to many of us. But if it works for this person, so be it.

My holiday refuge came in a five year old movie "Love Actually." It is the story of several relationships at Christmastime in England. There are complications in all of them. Some end happily but some do not.

It's hard to believe but art occasionally does imitate life.

There is great music being played throughout and we get to see actors such as Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson and Laura Linney take a step away from the serious roles they are known for and give us things to laugh at (and a few moments that make you shake your head sadly as well.) I find I can watch this movie damn near every day and see something I didn't see before ... and smile at scenes that are as funny on the 100th viewing as they were on the first. The bonus this time was commentary on the DVD from the director and some of the actors on scenes in the movie. A second bonus is the inclusion of some scenes that didn't make the final print. This helps to explain things that puzzled me about the movie ... while tossing in some more laughs.

So, you see there are many ways to celebrate these two weeks ... without giving in to the needs of others.

It's not too late (is it?) to suggest you pick the way that suits your needs and, as a popular ad suggests, Simply Do it. There are 50 other weeks in the year in which we accede to the wishes of our bosses, SOs, kids and pets. Perhaps if we did type of relaxing and recreating more than once a year, we might not be a country that seems to be at each other's throats all the time.

Now there's a happy thought for the holidays.