Rising from a cosy bed piled high with wool blankets, a thick quilt and flannelette sheets, I notice the light in the room is different.
As I peek through the slatted blind covering the window nearest the bed, my heart softens to see a white and beautiful world where everything has a muffled tone and peace abounds.
Slowly, slowly a feel
ing starts to envelop me once more.
It's a familiar feeling and a very welcome, comforting one. The Christmas spirit has found me once more.
I suppose it began the day before when, bundled up in a furry hood and cashmere scarf, I walked to the end of my street to watch the annual Burlington Santa Clause Parade go by.
It had been an unusually cold and brisk day and my fingers had froze in my leather gloves each time I took them out of my pocket to take another picture of a passing float.
Children sat bundled in small chairs with barely a small red nose visible beneath the scratchy scarves that were wrapped around their chubby faces. Parents waved from the sidelines at all the parade participants as they found themselves unable to resist the convivial spirit of the parade and the welcoming in of the Christmas season once more.
Thinking of the blog I wanted to write for my Active Rain real estate website, my attendance at the parade was more utilitarian than something I had really looked forward to doing; however standing near those people who were already well imbibed with Christmas spirit, I found my homesick heart lifting and the odd time I noticed my own arm raising as it waved at the happy souls who manned the floats.
Feeling my heart beginning to swell, I found myself reciting, in my mind, the old familiar Grinch Who Stole Christmas' thoughts about how, perhaps, Christmas does indeed mean more than all the glitter and materialism that bombards us this time of the year.
I imagined he must have felt the same feeling overcome himself that I was now beginning to feel.
It probed at my soft inner core for points of entry, points that hadn't been bolted and locked to keep the outside world safely out.
The parade had ended with Santa himself waving his 
usual jolly, red-sleeved wave at one and all, and I found myself softly smile in the realization that Christmas goes on, no matter what.
As I walked swiftly home in the stark winter air, I found myself humming the song the Whos had sung on that Christmas morning in Whoville when they had awoken to nothing after having had all of their Christmas preparations taken away by a grizzled old Grinch.
The song was an uplifting one declaring to all that Christmas Day will always go on, just as long as we all have one another. Yes, I quietly thought to myself, it's true.
The Christmas spirit will descend and Christmas will come, just as it has always done, no matter what our life circumstances or the difficult times we are going through.
All we have to do is acknowledge and accept.
Acknowledge and accept that no matter how bad life may appear, or how much stress we are undergoing, things will always turn around and a brighter day will find itself in our midst, gently surrounding us in light and warmth.
Just as long as we have 'we', things will be fine.
We have friends, family and even strangers who seek to know us better. Underneath all of the faces that we find ourselves coming across during this peaceful season, we are all the same.
We each seek love, acceptance and gentleness.
We seek it for ourselves and we long to give it to others, if they will only open up and accept it from us.
This is what the Christmas spirit is all about, it's what it has always been about, and, as long as we have 'we', will always be about.
Wishing you and your loved ones and those who surround you a peaceful holiday season filled with genuine smiles, warm hugs, open hearts and acceptance for one and all.
~Jo
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I love this time of year, I try to help as many as I can young and old, big and small. Good Blog, Thanks for postin