It’s Christmas time.
The air is fresh and it’s brisk. You are not suffocated by the heat or heaviness of summer. Instead, the cold invigorates your skin and fills your lungs with refreshing purity.
Every year, my family comes together and we visit this very small town about an hour away from home. This weekend, we continued that tradition and it was a truly great weekend. At Christmas, this town lines its streets with luminaries and all the little shops put up lights and make cider and cookies for their visitors. It’s almost something out of a storybook.
Christmas music emanates from a variety of sources and can be heard while you walk the streets of this place. The town is home to a very old restaurant and lodging establishment. This is where we eat dinner when we visit. Food is prepared and served in very large portions – family-style. You order one of five or six meals and get unlimited amounts of not only that, but also potatoes, cole slaw, and the best damn biscuits you’ve ever put in your mouth. This year, I chose Chicken and Dumplins.
It’s a classic and wonderful scene. And with all the little kids that are now present in my three sisters’ families, well – it’s always full of life.
There is something very romantic and mysterious about winter. Girls aren’t strutting around in short skirts and tight shirts that are showing more cleavage and more stomach. And guys aren’t gawking at them. Not that I don’t appreciate a hot woman dressed in flattering clothing – don’t get me wrong. But there’s something very special about a woman who looks amazing when she’s bundled up against the cold.
Her true beauty shines thru and some things are left to the imagination. It’s better that way, if you ask me. Maybe her whole body is completely covered, and therefore her hands become the center of attention and you notice how small they are.
Or perhaps she’s pulled a hood over her head, in an effort to protect her ears and neck from winter’s chill. Her eyes shine a little brighter than usual and you suddenly realize that they are the most amazing thing about her.
It’s funny how things are brought to light. By darkness. By cold. By affliction.
I love Christmas.
8 comments:
You really are a very hopeless romantic. Refreshing.
You really paint quite the picture. That's the kind of setting and experience I read about in all those old books. It's amazing to me that a place like that even exists.
I'm doing my part to spread Christmas cheer around these parts. For example, when I say Merry Christmas to someone and they get all pissy because I said Christmas instead of holiday or whatever, I punch them in the kidney. Merry Christmas!
morbid-- if they say "bah-humbug," I think you should put a bug in their ear- they'll say more than "bah" and do more than just hum...
J- once again I am impressed with your words. This place isn't Highlands, NC, is it? Sounds similar, though I haven't been there in Christmastime. I think a woman who is beautiful all bundled up is more beautiful than one who feels the need to show off how little she can wear in public other times.
christa - yes, i am. for better or for worse.
morbid - thank you. this place is quite a find, it's amazing to me, too, that it really exists. and i applaud you on the kidney punches - anyone who has a problem with "Merry Christmas" deserves at least that in my book. keep it up.
dennis - i appreciate it. Highlands is actually a good guess, although that's not where i'm referring to.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
How many times have I fallen in love in the cold? Isn't snow like that magic potion where you fall for the next girl you see? (Or is it just me?) I totally agree about the cold and the ladies' wardrobe. But don't get me started. Innocent as it is, I'm spoken for!
I can tell you this, it was one cold night in 1985 when I first fell for my wife. The cold is special. Wish we had more of it.
It was winter the night I met my husband and let him take me home. Awww, I am such a freaking romantic too, aren't I?
I love this post. It captures winter and feelings about the season, and makes it seem less chilling. Love how you go from the family scene to chicks with cleavage. Had me laughing. I would be interested in knowing how many people fall in love in the warmth of winter in comparison to summer love.
I hope you find a girl who will appreciate your depth and incredible thoughts. It's just a shame I am probably just a bit too old for you (oh, and married with three kids!) LOL!
Merry Chrizzle my Shizzle!
J. The only escorted date I ever had was in Winter Park, Colo. It was the night I planned to propose to my wife. I had been planning it for a week or two. But the van slid off the road apres skiing that day, so Daddy insisted on driving us. I'd already told him--in a vague sort of way--but he was opaque, obtuse, and angry I wouldn't sit in the condo and eat Chef Boyardee. But he drove us to Gasthaus Eichler, expensive resort German place, then picked us up two hours later. He was completely shocked at the big news. (But then, so was Wendy. After seven years of dating, when I popped the question, one knee almost under the table, all she could say was, "Are you serious?") My advice to you is, wait till you leave the restaurant to ask. Our meals were fifty dollars each and we were both too nervous to eat anything after that.....
steven - there is something very conducive to romance about winter and the cold it brings. it seems that way to me, anyway. and great story about the night you proposed. i appreciate the advice - if that event ever actually happens for me, i'll take heed.
MM - thank you for the kind words. i'm glad you liked the smooth transition from family scene to chicks with cleavage. it was one of my more masterful moments as a writer. i love your "snoop dogg-ified" Merry Christmas. oh yea, and i prefer older women.
JT - i hear ya. they are magical, i promise.
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