I’m strange. I know that. And as if you needed more evidence of that fact, I found myself doing even more weird things this weekend. So this is me, weird, at the holidays.
- I’m so picky about Christmas cards. First of all, I send a LOT of them. And I can’t just sign my name. Oh no. I have to write a personal note. A different personal note. In each one. Because I’m anal like that. But before I even get to that point, I have to find it. The perfect Christmas card. That was my quest this weekend. First, I eliminate anything that prominently features Santa Claus. Not that there’s anything wrong with Santa Claus. Just not the reason I celebrate. Second, most nativity scenes are eliminated, thanks to a little song by Andrew Peterson, which starts with the lines: It was not a silent night
There was blood on the ground
You could hear a woman cry
In the alleyways that night
On the streets of David’s town
Seriously? How can I buy a Christmas card with a cherubic baby Jesus and a serene Mary after that? I can’t. So thank you Andrew Peterson, for making Christmas card shopping even harder for me. Finally, the words. This one’s too cheesy. That one’s too generic. Too funny. Too sad. For. The. Love. Four stores and three hours later, I emerged with some Charlie Brown cards. ‘Cause that’s how I roll. - Then came the decorating. I’m really not that anal about decorating. Except for the nativity. Because, it bugs me when the three wise men are part of the manger scene. They weren’t there yet. So, this was my solution:
Here we have the manger, in the living room. You’ll notice an angel, Mary, Jesus, Joseph and a shepherd. No wise men. Because they…
Are still in the East…aka, my bedroom. Because I’m that weird.
That’s all for now. I also made some reindeer-bunny hybrid cookies, but we’ll save those for later.
you know what’s weird, the wise men being in another room makes sense to me.
also, why do you avoid christmas cards with the nativity scene only to set up a nativity scene in your living room? i prefer to go with the singing snowmen and penguins that make up the hallmark holiday line of singing stuffed figures.
See, I had a feeling someone was going to ask about the nativity cards vs. nativity set. And here’s my thoughts. Most nativity cards have baby Jesus with a halo. And Mary’s glowing. And the wise men are there. And they’re usually cartoony. With my set, I can put the wise men elsewhere. No halo on Jesus. And it’s a little more rustic. Plus, if you look closely, baby Jesus is missing a hand. Which just adds some personality that you can’t find in a card.
is the shepherd’s staff with a hook on it where Jesus’ missing hand is?
Oh Scott, you’re losing points. That’s not a shepherd’s staff–because that’s Joseph, not a shepherd. It’s his walking stick. And Jesus’ hand is under the stove at my old apartment in Missouri. Or heaven.
no no, i know that’s joseph (who looks incredibly old), i was talking about the kid with the sheep. he’s the shepherd and does not have a staff, thus i was asking if it was also under the stove at your old apartment in Missouri.
Ah, he’s too young for a staff. He gets it when he turns 16.
And Joseph had a rough night.
i was wondering also about the nativity card vs. nativity scene…alas…my question is, how come jesus, mary and joseph were all white? how is it possible that jesus was a white baby born in bethleham?
oh and i’ve got to say this little commentary today has livened up my otherwise very depressing day. Thanks all!
You know, I have the same problem with christmas cards. I tend to lean towards those with snowmen (even though it has failed to give me a good snowing since I left Bluefield). However my other main problem is getting a set of cards that has less than 35 in it. I don’t send out that many cards. I wouldn’t know who to send them to anyway. Maybe I should send you 12 to make it okay to buy that one box.
You CRACK me up! I’m loving the Wise Men in the east (your bedroom). My biblically incorrect nativities are taking over the shelves in my living room at the moment. And then there’s the plastic one I have that would disturb you greatly. I got it when I was like 5 and it has Mary, Joseph, Jesus (who is broken and falls out of the manger often. . .he also has slightly creepy bug eyes, but that’s another story.) Anyway, there’s no shepherds, only Wise Men. Yeah, not so biblical.
Krissy–I don’t know why they’re white. Maybe because Mary was one of the first purveyors of sunblock. Or maybe my flash just washed her out. I KNOW that Jesus would have had much more olive skin in real life. I guess the maker of my nativity set just wasn’t down with brown. Thanks for giving me another Christmas complex.
Tiffany–You should TOTALLY send me your extra cards. I’ve already purchased more than 50, and still don’t think it’s enough!
Mandy–I think I would like your nativity set with the bug-eyed Jesus. It adds personality. Like my one-handed Jesus. The Wisemen would still make me sad (stupid Wisemen, such attention hogs!)
I roll with Pooh Bear
[...] us weird things about yourself” blogs. I’ve done it before. I’m even weird at the holidays. But lucky for you, fair readers, I have plenty of quirks to go [...]