… stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store?

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?“

- Dr Suess

So, with a week and bit a left to go – Christmas is decidedly here, whether we like it or not.

Earlier in the year my parents decided they were going to separate. It’s been a fairly bumpy conclusion to come to, and everyone is still all sensitive about things. And deciding what Sibling and I are doing come Christmas day hasn’t been easy. Christmas has taken a less than cheerful turn this year.

And I’d had enough. I hung up a Christmas Wreath on the front door, and set up Christmas Tree, complete with lights and colour co-ordinated decorations. I wrapped all the presents I had and placed them under the tree. Because dammit, Christmas CHEER was needed!

And since then all sorts of festive cheer has blindsided me – the boy is this very moment wearing a Santa hat while he games. I’ve received two Christmas cards in the post, wishing me a Merry Christmas. I even dutifully attended Christmas in the Park to watch The Third Quarter sing in the choir.

Christmas, it appears, DOES mean something more than fighting it out alongside strangers in crowded malls. Perhaps I just needed to be reminded.