Tagged: christmas
As you grow older, your Christmas list gets smaller; the things you really want for the holidays can’t be bought
Over the years, I’ve observed an interesting phenomenon about Christmas.
As a little kid, it’s all about the way Santa’s ability to do the impossible pervades everything we do, convincing us in the holiday season, anything can happen.
Back when I still played tennis, the kids on my team fell prey to this strange myth that somehow if you laid out milk and cookies and a tiny little bed, an elf would magically appear in it and clean your room while you were asleep. I’m not kidding, these kids brought their elves to practice.
My Childhood Was Net Better
The Tooth Fairy (or Easter Bunny, or Santa Claus . . .): a fun and harmless fiction, or a pointless justification for lying to children? – Daily Prompt
These sort of made up magical characters are not much lies anymore; they’re more the traditions created by the efforts of many generations, and I think that these “fictions” have done nothing but benefit my childhood. So, YES YES YES, fun and harmless, but really, so much more.
I’m 16. I’m pretty sure that at 12, I had gotten a clue that there was something fishy about the whole Santa deal. I’d never been exposed to many stories about the Easter Bunny, and someone had ruined the Tooth Fairy when I was very young. Therefore, I am writing this post with relatively little experience, but I have the advantage of recency. Most other adults have probably forgotten the emotions sequestered to a myth like Santa Claus, and are basically writing from a purely hypothetical point of view. Some other bloggers might have children, in which case they are seeing the effects of such a myth right here, right now.
The sort of folktale legend concept was an essential component of my childhood, a crucial point in the development of my imagination. Believing in Santa meant I became extra obedient around December. I really got into Christmas music and Christmas movies. It was a joyful, magical time for me.
But then I got older, and so did my peers. Doubt and skepticism seemed to increase exponentially with each coming year, so I gradually became more doubtful and skeptical myself. Some people might have been hurt, but for a greedy child like me, my only reaction was trying to fake it so that my parents would continue buying me childish presents. I’d also never told them that I didn’t believe in the Tooth Fairy, so dolla dolla bill y’all.
Then, I was ambivalent about whether or not I should ruin the experience for my little sister, who was 3 years behind on this gradual realization. I think I might have exposed the lies at some point. :(
Even though I eventually learned that the whole thing was a lie, I’m glad Santa was a part of my childhood.
I’m sure that as a parent, I’ll try my best to maintain the whole story. I’ll make holidays as realistic as possible, but I’ll also have to balance the greediness in my children.
So perhaps these characters are harmless, but only to a point. Be sure to never let the greed overwhelm you or your children.
Waffle House on Christmas Day
Waffle House is open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. At Waffle House, the cooks greet you as you walk in the door. They force you to pay at the register so you have to make small talk with the cashier. If you sit in one of those chairs at the counter, you can watch all the action. The waitresses yell out orders in a special language, and you can see all the action. The bacon is made to order; the egg basket sits above everyone’s heads. No matter where you go, anywhere in the country, all the tables look virtually the same. Napkin dispenser, ketchup and mustard, and menus tucked away on the side. Waffle House’s menu has remained virtually the same for as long as I can remember.
In my opinion, they aren’t even famous for their waffles, which taste delicious anyways. They outshine a lot of other restaurants for their hashbrowns: diced, capped, smothered, and chunked. The potatoes are always cooked perfectly and when you are handed a steaming plate of delicious comfort food, you just feel mentally satisfied for the rest of the day.
Now, perhaps the toast can be overly greasy. Perhaps the seats are sticky with artificial maple syrup and perhaps the hot chocolate comes from an envelope like lots of people make in single servings in their own household, but I can easily overlook all of that.
I just really like Waffle House. I don’t visit that often, but when I do, I always leave feeling content yet slightly nauseous.
When you walk in, all the waiters and cooks greet you and ask how you’re doing, whether you’re a regular or a newcomer. When you walk out, they holler in a loving way for you to have a good rest of the day.
If I’ve got some change on me, I’ll definitely play a classic on the jukebox.
Once, I visited while in Kentucky for a debate tournament.
I would be just a little bit excited after SAT class because a Waffle House existed next door. I definitely went there after class on many an occasion.
There are two Waffle Houses near my house, and I have the pleasure of choosing which one I feel like eating at.
At noon on Christmas Day, my family was sitting in Waffle House. We had just finished opening presents. We were still sleepy and our clothes were somewhat rumpled but we enjoyed the meal none-the-less. This is what I was doing at noon today.
Inspiration from here.
Catherine Zhang 