The joy of sharing at Christmas
The winter holiday season is full of wonders to me.
Friends invited me their open house last weekend. I have not gone for the past few years.
This year, I responded to their e-mail invite: “Golly shucks, guess what? Nothing at all in my book so I don’t have to juggle my schedule (as if) – look forward to being there!”
I put the event in my calendar, promptly forget about it and missed the open house.
It is inexcusable on my part to be a no-show in whatever form of etiquette you follow. Having said that, my jilted hosts kindly sent an e-mail followup.
Rap my knuckles a little harder. Push me down the stairs. Tongue-lash me. Berate me like the fool I am. Publicly flog me with tinsel saved for 20 years from your tree. Stand me with my nose pressed to the corner of the room. Can you gather the tone of that follow-up e-mail?
Heck, why go through all the bother to draft and send such an e-mail. Just don’t invite me again. Oops, that’s probably a major assumption. As if I would be invited to any future event these hosts might plan.
But let me HMmmm about this a bit. It is the “season of sharing and giving.” I don’t remember it being the “season of tallying and moaning.”
As for parties, I expect the inevitable last minute cancellations, and oh horrors, a few no-shows. I clean my house. I prepare the food. I buy the beverages. I invite the guests. I don’t put a list in my kitchen itemizes my time or my expenses for a party I host.
I hosted my 50th birthday party. I paid for it. I admit, I did gulp when I saw the hotel/beverage/catering/flowers/pianist/cake/necklaces bills after the event.
And guess what, if I think about it hard enough, there were no-shows even to my little soiree. At the time, who these no-shows were I couldn’t tell you.
But back to the reason for this post. I breached proper social etiquette by my no-show at that open house. I know that. Will I apologize to my hosts? Let me think — that would be a no.
It’s the season of giving and sharing, the season of joy and light. I am off one invitation list that is certain. I will enjoy this season. I will not count and tally the number, quantity or value of gifts given or received. This is just my view of giving without expectations. My view of what this season really means.
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