Back in Chicago

Eh. Home was home over the holidays – got to hang out with my parents briefly. They’re workaholics, so we only had a little bit of time. Plus, I ended up coming back to Chicago fairly quickly. On Monday night, we watched Lord of the Rings (but didn’t put the tape into the VCR until 12:30 AM). Hehehe – my dad lost it around 1:30 AM. and my mom and I decided to call it quits around 2:30 AM.

Hung out with my sister and Shane (her bf), along with their three dogs. Tried to add a floppy drive to their computer and was somewhat succesful. I got the thing in, but for some reason the diskettes won’t lock when inserted into the drive. Next time I’m there, I may have to give it another go.

The holidays are odd at home. My parents both feel like gifts are a "required sign of respect." Several times, my mother expressed to me how she was "afraid" that other people would be getting them gifts. And, in return, she would have to have something to give them back.

In our house, there’s a closet in the hallway, right next to my sister’s old room, across from my old bedroom. In that closet, we kept a ton of gifts that we received over the years, but never opened. Rather, I should say that they’re gifts that my parents never opened. There has been (and it may still be there) a Parcheesi board that I got a long, long time ago. But I never got to open it, as it was meant to be a "gift for later."

My parents believe that gifts are necessary objects, required to be given on particular occasions. To them, looking for a specific gift for someone based on their tastes/interests is silly. If there is a wedding, birthday, or occasion that warrants a gift – they tend to look around the house for an object that might suffice.

A few Christmases ago, my dad got me a mug from his workplace, stuffed with various pens and pencils (also from his workplace). Each item had his company’s logo stamped on it. The mug and pens were nice, but the whole gift smacked of obligation – which is why, sometimes, the holidays don’t make me all that happy. Sometimes, Christmas makes me pull back a bit, as I’m hesitant to be all smiles just because the season dictates that behaviour. I want to think that I’m cheerful and kind and generous and thankful for things all year round, and not just around Christmastime. Deep down, I guess I just don’t like being told what to do.

This year was nice, and I got a snazzy looking sweater and some money. And though my parents’ attitude towards the holidays differs from mine, there is still something to be learned in how they approach things. My parents treat others as they are treated, and that’s an important lesson in and of itself as well.

Even after a full twelve hour day of working, my mom and dad will try to stay up until 3 AM to watch a movie with me, just because I’m home for the holidays. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.