I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (NIV)
Ordinarily, the day after Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. It ranks right up there with Christmas, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, vacations and my birthday. I spend the day with Christmas carols blasting from the CD player, boxes of ornaments full of memories from times past decorating sometimes the traditional way, but sometimes, something new. I put up three, sometimes, four trees and cram every nook and cranny with Christmas. I feel so creative, happy and alive. I think something is wrong with me because this year, I am just not in the mood. If youngest son and his girlfriend had not pulled all the trees and boxes down out of the attic Thanksgiving night, I would have sat in my pajamas all day long and not done at thing. But, you couldn’t walk through the living room for all the stuff and besides, we have having family and friends come stay with us over Christmas and they will be expecting decorations, so I started in on the unpacking and hanging of the “greens”. I just didn’t feel like myself. As I opened bins of decorations, I only selected one out of four ornaments to put on the trees. Only my absolute favorites made it out of the box. My trees look pretty skimpy instead of overflowing with memories. I am thinking about putting one tree back in the attic and not even decorating it this year. All I kept thinking about was how hard it would be to put everything back away. At one point, when I reached into the last bin and saw that it was mostly a certain kind of ornament that I can live without, I almost cried in relief. That is just not me at all. Here it is the day after the day after Thanksgiving, and I still have to decorate the mantel and some tables and one more tree. Only a quarter of what I usually put out is unboxed, and I hauled the rest of it back upstairs to store unopened for another year. I have been pondering this change. It could be that I have realized that I only have three weekends until Christmas. What with a church auction next weekend, a motorcycle ride the next and company coming the next, this weekend is it for decorating. Or it could be my decision to make or buy locally all the Christmas gifts we will give this year. Looking at the time I need to do that makes me a little panicky. Those may be the reason, but I suspect it’s another one. Tell me, my blogging friends, do you know? Could it be the result of this high blood pressure medicine I am taking? I’ve been telling my husband ever since I started it I just don’t feel myself. Kind of spacey and blah. Tired and irritable. Not even Carol of the Bell’s can knock it out of me. So, what do you think the problem is?
Does it help that you've inspired me to go find my Christmas trees and decor? We actually DO have a lot of that down here as opposed to packed away somewhere in Ohio because when this house was on the old NE home tour I lugged it all down. Write me a note about what rx you're on for hbp- although most of them don't have apathy as a side effect. Huh. That's a new one- I never heard a commercial where they say, "May cause headaches, stomachaches, drowsiness, apathy…"
Whatever. I have PRECISELY the Christmas CD that will knock it out of you. How soon do you want me there?
Maybe taking the new med and coming down with a cold of some sort?
I know with my dystrophy I always get very spacey and blah a few days before cold or flu symptoms appear.
I can't find your email!!!! So I will leave me thoughts about how you are feeling here. I don't know anything about the side effects of BP meds, however, I do know a lot about how you described how you are feeling. I put very little fall decorations up this year (didn't even do Halloween/Thanksgiving…just a generic Fall decor). Today I took down the Christmas bins went through all of them and kept only two and had my husband carry the rest back up. I even thought about not putting up the big tree and getting a pre-lit three foot pink tree. Still considering that.
I'm not depressed. I wouldn't call it apathetic either. Or even scroogie. I just don't want to deal with it all. Before or after.
All my family members are okay with a 'simplified' Christmas this year. To tell you the truth I would even prefer eating out on Christmas day and am actually going to mention it to the rest of the "clan" (gasp).
I would research the side effects of the meds you are taking and talk to your Dr. about it. However, I think that you have been exceptionally overwhelmed these past few months and your mind/body is telling you "enough is enough".j
I really truly wished we lived closer. I feel as though we are such kindred spirits and we could lift each other up with a latte or two on the front porch swing 😉