A Little Ink Blot

Today is Boxing Day, and in the midst of straighening the house, managing all the new toys, and putting things away, I feel like I am wrapping up this whole Christmas spirit thing. I have been in every room of the house to put something away, and in every entrance and exit I find another item that needs to be addressed. It reminds me that Christmas is over.

There is no more heightened anticipation underlying the mundane chores. They are just chores. The piles of laundry will get smaller and smaller, but the fun of dressing up for Christmas pictures, Church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Gramma's house is also over. The closets will all be straightened and cleaned up, but there are no presents hiding in those back corners, either. Old toys will be put away, and the new toys will be old by the end of the day. What is left to keep me motivated?

Aha! I think I found it. A list!

In the back bedroom, hiding behind the chair under the window, is a pile of broken things. A blanket unravelling, a teddy bear in pieces, a pillow with split seams. They made me remember one of the items on my Christmas Wish List. A few months ago I made a mental note that read, "For Christmas: fix all the broken things and wrap them up for family gifts." I must have seen that item on the list every time I cleaned up in the bedroom, but that was as far as I took it.

So, I can keep the Spirit of Chrstmas alive all year long by starting a new list for next year. Won't this be fun? I can start the list today, and next week I can begin working in secret on accomplishing it. Besides, if I call it A New List I won't feel guilt or shame at not having finished them all for this year. And, when I find myself getting annoyed at my mundane to-do lists, I can bring this one back out and recapture the magic of Christmas anticipation.

Ok, here goes:
Item 1: Finish the Christmas gifts from 2005 for Christmas 2006 -- a snake, a blanket, an afghan, a photo album, a recipe book....
Item 2: Repair all the girls broken toys and books -- two bears, three pillows, a cow, a VeggieTales Jonah, a pile of torn books.
Item 3: Mend Ted's buttonless shirts --oh, hey, if I do that this week, I will be in time for his birthday next week!
Item 4....