Talk to any of my friends and you'll find that I'm been craving seasonal changes. Don't talk to my HH. He'll just try to make wise cracks because he is a warm weather lover...he'll never succeed in turning me into one. Twelve years into our marriage and he still hasn't figured that out.
Usually our family tradition is to put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving, stand back and admire our work on it while sipping eggnog. Well...the tree went up on Friday. Saturday we thought of a billion other things we could be doing...including going to mass. By Sunday, we set our sights on getting it decorated and trimming the house in Christmas beauty.
I am happy to report that the tree is now proudly glowing with lights, ornaments, and garland. The rest of the house, however, is staying pretty simple. As the following little ditty illustrates, Christmas in Hawaii is a little different than what you mainlanders will be experiencing. Enjoy it for me. I'm going to try embracing the spirit of the season...island style.
YOU KNOW YOU'RE CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN HAWAII WHEN:
-- Author Unknown
The only snow you see is in a cone shaped cup and covered with syrup.
Santa arrives on the beach in a canoe.
Aloha shirts and muumuus are worn to Christmas services.
Winter clothes are a sweatshirt, a jacket and shorts.
Little Jimmy and little Mary are little Kimo and little Malia.
Diamond Head is majestic and green.
"Silent Night" is played on the ukulele.
It's macadamia nut candy instead of fruitcake.
You leave your slippers and sandals at the door, not your snow boots.
Fans wear tank tops to the Aloha Bowl game.
Little boys want a new boogie board instead of a shiny new sled.
"Big girls" wish for a Hawaiian heirloom bracelet.
Sushi and passion orange juice are left out for Santa.
You have to build a fireplace to hang the stockings.
Families enjoy their Christmas meal at the beach.
The little angel in the kindergarten play wears a haku instead of a halo.
"Me ke aloha" (with love) is written on Christmas cards.
1 comment:
OK, different strokes for different folks. You gotta love diversity!
When in Panama, we only heard "Feliz Navidad" ad naseum. I can still hear it in my mind's eye.... over, and over, and over again and again....
On a positive note: In the military, NOTHING lasts forever. When you are freezing your little buns off at your next tour, you will wish for balmy tropical breezes (well, maybe not, but it it is a positive concept anyhoo!) Plant a hibiscus for me!
Meanwhile:
Bloom where you are planted...
Enjoy the quirks of a Hawaiian Christmas...
Celebrate the universal joys of the season (hope, peace, and love)...
Adopt an island mentality...
relax...it is not a lifetime thing!
With great love from a frozen mom who is looking out at a frozen valley in western Virginia.
Mom
Post a Comment