A couple of days after Christmas, my fiancé and I were driving around looking at Christmas lights and listening to Christmas music--something we didn't get the chance to do before we traveled for Christmas this year. When one particular song came on, it related to this year's Christmas so much.
The song was "Where Are You Christmas?" by Faith Hill.
This year, Christmas didn't really feel quite like Christmas. Yeah, there was family and presents to be opened, but it still lacked something.
Maybe it's because adults don't feel Christmas the same way kids can. We don't get to leave the milk and cookies for Santa or carrots for the reindeer. We don't get to wake up early to a tree full of Christmas presents. Instead, we struggle to find the right gifts for everyone without going completely broke.
Maybe it's because there wasn't a "white Christmas." At least in Nebraska, there was no snow. It rained and there was a double-rainbow. Neither of which hardly anyone ever remembers happening before. Christmas just isn't the same without some snow on the ground, even if we do all complain about it the next day.
Maybe it's because I traveled more than usual. Being engaged means you have to share holidays, and up until this year, I never really understood what that meant. It means possibly traveling hours and hours just to have Christmas with one family, then returning the very next day to have another Christmas.
Maybe it's because I just couldn't feel the Christmas spirit this year. The radio oddly lacked the crazy amount of Christmas music when I searched for it. People once again forgot the meaning of Christmas, or at least couldn't even pretend to be cheerful. Christmas lights being put up is happening less and less.
Whatever the reason is that it didn't quite feel like Christmas, I keep finding myself asking "Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you?"
I keep hoping Christmas is just around the corner instead of the New Year.