Repetitive Comforts
Kesha LInehan
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: Opinion
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Have you ever noticed that you have a tendency to do the same thing at certain times? For example, you have a movie that whenever you watch it you have to have a particular snack; or when you go to a certain place you need to listen to a certain song either on the way there or at the place; or more commonly, when you have a holiday event you need to have something in particular occur to MAKE it a holiday!
It's funny how holiday traditions start, but that is the beginning of how they come to be. In my house for Christmas we need to listen to Brenda Lee's Christmas album while decorating the tree or it doesn't feel like Christmas. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't hear her Rocking Around the Christmas Tree blaring in the background while hanging up ornaments.
For Halloween, we need to have this particular mixed Halloween CD playing in the car for the entire week before Halloween or it doesn't feel like Halloween. These are things that I NEED done for me to be happy with those particular holidays.
What I found funny is that since I've been married to my husband he has brought a few of his own "traditions" into the mix as well. I have never had a problem buying clothes for children for their birthdays or any holiday if that's what they wanted…. He refuses to do that. But my favorite one of his things that NEEDS to have done is that for Easter, he has to make sure that our son has a solid chocolate rabbit. It can't be hollow and it needs to weigh at least a pound. I have to make sure that we don't forget that or he will literally go out the night before and make it so! One year we couldn't find what he was looking for, for about a week, but perseverance and travel to about ten different stores paid off!
I'm sure that everyone has things that they just need to do to make their holidays feel "right" and understand where I'm coming from. I just know that if one of my "traditions" was changed that my comfort levels would be permanently altered and it wouldn't be the same for me. That's why I take comfort in my repetitions.
It's funny how holiday traditions start, but that is the beginning of how they come to be. In my house for Christmas we need to listen to Brenda Lee's Christmas album while decorating the tree or it doesn't feel like Christmas. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't hear her Rocking Around the Christmas Tree blaring in the background while hanging up ornaments.
For Halloween, we need to have this particular mixed Halloween CD playing in the car for the entire week before Halloween or it doesn't feel like Halloween. These are things that I NEED done for me to be happy with those particular holidays.
What I found funny is that since I've been married to my husband he has brought a few of his own "traditions" into the mix as well. I have never had a problem buying clothes for children for their birthdays or any holiday if that's what they wanted…. He refuses to do that. But my favorite one of his things that NEEDS to have done is that for Easter, he has to make sure that our son has a solid chocolate rabbit. It can't be hollow and it needs to weigh at least a pound. I have to make sure that we don't forget that or he will literally go out the night before and make it so! One year we couldn't find what he was looking for, for about a week, but perseverance and travel to about ten different stores paid off!
I'm sure that everyone has things that they just need to do to make their holidays feel "right" and understand where I'm coming from. I just know that if one of my "traditions" was changed that my comfort levels would be permanently altered and it wouldn't be the same for me. That's why I take comfort in my repetitions.
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