Here it is, the party season and yup it’s me, I’m the party pooper.  Not a complete party pooper though, I love the feasting and gathering of the month of December, and I know I mentioned in last December’s blog post that there are lots of joys of the season that I like and that don’t require acute eyesight, but I’m going to talk about some of the seasonal things that I find less pleasurable.

 

Parades and most greeting cards are inaccessible to me. When I had little kids I certainly enjoyed their excitement at watching festive floats go by, but I generally wasn’t able to see details or point things out to them. All I will say about greeting cards is this: my friend Pam gave me a stellar example for my 50th birthday.  It was an entire sheet of Bristol board with suitably large text and therefore it was easily accessible for me.  Thanks Pammy!

 

Some who know me well know I don’t like candles.  For the same reason I don’t like camp fires or fireworks either.  Here’s why: If you look right at a camera when the flash goes off, You know how the flash creates a little blind spot for just a sec?  Well average sighted folks may not notice this but things like candle flames; little bits of concentrated brightness, create temporary blind spots in peripheral vision also. Since I only have peripheral vision, these extra blind spots make me blinder than usual.  I find that a nuisance.

 

Christmas trees are not as bad, usually!

 

So I’m actually not a party pooper, I just have trouble enjoying some possible elements of various parties.

 

And now to show I’m not a total Scrooge, a poem.  This was inspired by the “post childhood experience” of December and the potential diverse ways to participate in what I like to call the season of joyous excess.

 

For children there’s the mystery of Santa

Or the wonder of what gifts eight nights may bring

Now I’m in on lots of secrets

It has started me to thinking:

How will I delight myself in years to be?

 

If you’re not Jewish or a Christian in this season,

You still might get some time off work without big reasons

Do not fret I’ve got a theory

I’ve been pondering this query.

There are other ways to view this time of year:

 

It’s Midway!

 

Midway through the longest nights

When there’s lots of snow and ice

Midway through the time when days are very short

 

So if you’re cold put on a sweater

And pretty lights make darkness better

And generosity can help us all feel good

 

We’re giving!

 

I might enjoy the shopping frenzy

I willl share my plenty plenty

And I’ll get a little fat from sweet excess.

 

I’d like to learn the things you do

And I’ll show you my stuff too

And we’ll all have food and drink and fancy dress.

 

It’s Festive!

 

Some will pray and some will visit

For some it’s sacred, some it isn’t

For those down south it’s not short days and freezing weather.

 

So if we like it or we don’t

It is a chance for us to note

That this time does not go on and on forever.

 

It’s Present!

 

Midway through the longest nights

Midway through the pretty lights

Midway through the time when darkness brings us down

 

So if we like it or we don’t

It’s quite important that we note

That our time does not go on and on forever.

 

Let’s party!