I have tried very hard to wait for another week before I think seriously about Christmas. In the past I have started to really get ready and I try to convince others to prepare themselves. But not this year. This year I am holding off until probably, next week. You know that I love the holiday season so I have decided that I will enjoy this wonderful season even more if I don’t stress out for an entire month.

Of course, I am already singing carols just about every day, and I have finished wrapping all my gifts. The wrapping has been easier this year for two reasons, One, I bought good paper and it has made the wrapping easier and believe it or not, fun. And I must admit that number two is because I purchase the presents I want to give throughout the year. This way I don’t have to rush around and stress out on what to buy. And I no longer ask my loved ones what they want. I decided several years ago to give the presents that I want to give and I always put a lot of thought into it. So, right about now, I am relaxed and willing to spend what time I need singing and wrapping and doing so at my own pace. Try it, you will be amazed at how much more you will enjoy the holiday season.

Alright, I have a new complaint that I guess has no ability to change. Yesterday I went to my local pharmacy and bought myself a brush and comb set and another package of combs. They were just what I wanted and were even below what I planned on paying. This morning when I got up my hair looked like a rat’s nest and my first thought was that I had to use my new brush and comb because I couldn’t go anywhere looking like I did. Now here’s the rub… my new brush and comb were encased in a tomb-like package which for me and my old arthritic hands, was impossible to open. As I was gnawing at the package, I began to think about all the other things that nowadays come entombed like that.

I am more than willing to accept excessive packaging for a product that is dangerous, poisonous, or not to be touched or used by anyone under 21, but why is a hair brush and comb that dangerous? And I defy anyone to just open this hard plastic packaging. Without a pair of scissors handy, I would never have been able to free that brush and comb or the other package of combs that I bought. I can’t imagine what someone does if they don’t have a pair of scissors. Life in the year 2013 is so different for me that I find it very strange and almost unacceptable to have to spend quite a while trying to open a package that absolutely doesn’t need to be protected like that.

When I was young and trying to work my way through college, I used to go “on the road” and talk to many organizations that wanted a little comic relief that they could afford. And one of the topics I always included was how do you open a package of Lifesavers. People thought that it was very funny and I always got a very good response. Now that I am old, I still think that the Lifesaver roll of candies is almost impossible to open, unless of course, you use your teeth. And depending on whether you want to eat only one and save the rest, you have to be extremely careful when you open the roll to leave enough packaging material to fold over the rest of them. Although I don’t think I have bought a roll of Lifesavers recently, I think that they are still packaged the same way.

I don’t know why the packaging of various products is so much in my mind. Maybe it is because Christmas is on the horizon and several of the things that I have bought are also encased in a plastic tomb. But the more I think about it, I think that those particular items are mainly for my young loved ones and I am sure that they will know how to open their gift without the slightest problem. It is us old folks who need help to release whatever item is inside. And I don’t know about you, but I have enough things that I need help with and I just don’t want to add anything as dumb as opening a package.

Now that Christmas is just a couple of weeks away, I would be remiss not to remind you to take it easy and relax! Okay, I know that you have tons of things to do to get ready, but you will not be doing yourself or anyone else a favor or a perfect Christmas if you are all stressed out. Wrap if you have to, but do it a few items at a time. Prepare to bake, but don’t make it a terrible chore, enjoy it and when possible include your children or grandchildren. And if you must shop, do it as if you really were going to enjoy the experience. Hum with the carols and take the time to enjoy all the decorations.

If you do all these things, you will find that instead of worrying about the coming holiday, you will anticipate the joyous and wonderful day that it is.