Newspaper Article

Despite It All, Merry Isn't Quite Contrary

Susan Cheever. Susan Cheever is a novelist and a biographer

2000

Overview

Furthermore, Christmas is a time of physical excesses, of eggnogs and fruitcakes and sugar plums and boxes of candy canes. Christmas is when we're supposed to let go, be dissolute and put on the weight that will reappear in our New Year's resolutions. It sounds good, but only for a moment. Our heads are dancing with visions of nutrition labels and medical admonitions. What about all that healthful living we're supposed to be doing even as we raise the wassail cup? It may taste delicious, but what is it doing to our cholesterol? What about the calories? Have another bite of Christmas pudding? Are you kidding? Another helping of the Christmas goose with all the trimmings? Are you trying to kill me? The truth is that I love Christmas. I just can't help myself. In spite of the insanity of getting and spending, in spite of the crowds, in spite of the tawdriness and the bad moods, the season enchants me. The smell of pine wreaths, the sweetness of Christmas carols, the traditions we've developed in our family of advent calendars and choosing the tree make my heart soar. I see forgiveness in the scene around the manger, whether it's played by disgruntled high school kids or represented by plastic figures. I see God's grace in the way shoppers sometimes stop for a moment to look up at a lighted tree or a glittering ornamental star. I see joy in the faces of my children when they wake up and find that their stockings have been magically filled during the night.

• Publisher: Newsday LLC