It's the People
For me, Christmas is all about the people ~ I love coming together with friends and family, hanging out, eating too much, and generally having an all around good time.
When I was living in Japan, I always looked forward to Christmas ~ because it either meant I was going home, or someone was coming to visit me. There could've been no better present.
So my wish for you this Christmas, is that you're able to spend it with the ones you love. And if that's not possible, drink a toast to them, send a text message, make a phone call...even blow them a kiss. Because in the end, it's all about the people.
How about you? What makes Christmas special for you? Any stories you'd like to share?
Contest now closed: Winner is Theo Lynne! Congratulations! Theo, please email me at nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com :-)
In the spirit of Christmas, if you leave a comment on this post, you'll be entered into a draw to win a copy of a book from my backlist (winner's choice), plus a set of signed playing cards from author Jacquelyn Frank. Contest closes midnight, December 20th 2008, E.S.T.
Also, swing by my blog www.nalinisingh.blogspot.com tomorrow for a chance to win something else cool.
Have a fantabulous holiday season everyone!
Labels: nalini singh
posted by Nalini Singh at 4:45 AM
31 Comments:
Nalini, I'm with you, it's the people, family and friends, even new friends someone brings along, and especially the kids who love all the festivities. Life gets so hectic you can't always get together just for fun as much as you'd like, but we do for the holidays, catching up and enjoying. It's hectic for us most years, house to house Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, some quick stops, some longer, back to family for dinner and presents, maybe some more visits later, and all sorts of parties most of the month, even online, lol. (Fell asleep and was sorry to miss the TKA party, sure you all had lots of fun).
Happy Holidays!
Hi Nalini,
I'm spending Christmas in Japan with BF. :) Very chilly here. We may visit Shimonoseki for some delicious blowfish, but that's about it.
P.S. I like the festive atmosphere of Christmas, but it's never been a very special day for me (cultural thing more than anything else). Still, I love seeing people over Christmas. :)
Christmas . . . well after the rushing around, the panic, the buying of presents, the panic, for me it's a time to reflect - on the people who are no longer with us *blow a kiss* and to cherish the people who are with us. To share company, enjoy a good meal, wear silly hats from crackers and to fight over the last mince pie!
Unfortunately, I am using this holiday time to relax. We (hubby and I) are staying home....by ourselves....to relax. It has been a very hectic last 5 months. I will miss my family tons, but right now I need to make me better! And sleep with do that!
Natasha A.
"I love coming together with friends and family"
SAY NO MORE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did anyone ELSE spot that?????
Literally pmsl!!!!
lol
I love watching my little ones opening their presents on Christmas Day. Their excitement is so genuine. Then we spend the rest of the day with grandparents and any aunts and uncles that come into town.
This is the first Christmas since my oldest started college and I was thrilled to have her back home. Her three baby sisters (10,8,5) couldn't be more elated. We will cook and laugh and do as little as possible other than just enjoy the food and the fun. My parents will be in as well as some friend I have amassed over the years who are now as much a part of our traditions as our own blood. (I am an only child and I started collected "brothers and sisters" in my teens.)
I think they come for the food ;)
Having grown up in a house with a Cajun mother and a Mexican father let me tell you, we can feed a crowd. I think the best gift I get every year is the phone calls that start after Thanksgiving wanting to know if I am cooking for Christmas. They all know my door is always open just be prepared to help me load the dishwasher when it is all over.
I am blessed with four beautiful healthy daughters, my parents are still healthy and active, and my husband is the best stepfather any girls could ever ask for.
I hope everyone has a great week and just appreciates the time you have to slow down and enjoy. We all work too hard too long and too much. Put on your fat jeans after Mass and eat chocolate and pie with the kids. There is always the gym next year!
Nalini, I know what you mean. Since I won't get to see everyone on Christmas those that I don't get to see that day I will get to see over the weekend.
Wishing everyone happy holidays!
Aloha Nalini! Though I didn't grow up in a household whose religion included Jesus and the story about his birth, my parents believe that all religions should be respected for the wisdom that they bring to the world and to the people trying to live in harmony in it. The concept of peace and goodwill for and towards everyone; of compassion and understanding; and the hope that we all carry within our hearts that though we sometimes come from very different places, cultures, points of view, that maybe one day, we can finally achieve peace and prosperity for all.
So this Christmas, like all the ones before, I'll be thankful to be spending with those that I love and remember those who have passed with laughter and grateful memories. My family and I will eat and be merry... and eat again. Lol! We do love our food!
While I love picking out gifts and making everyone's cards, I make sure to do one thing, pick up gifts for Toys for Tots and other organizations as a reminder that there are always children in this world going hungry and going without.
From my family to yours... Happy Holidays, Mele Kalikimaka and Haouli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year)!
Greetings Nalini,
I agree, Christmas is spending time with family and other loved ones. I really love Christmas because it is also a time to get to see friends as they come home to visit their family (I still live in the town I grew up in) and be able to catch up face-to-face.
It's a time to let your inner child out and play with the kids - getting caught up in being "Santa". Being enthralled by the lights, sounds, smells and feeling of Christmas - it always warms my heart.
Happy Holidays to you and everyone out there!
Whatever festival you celebrate, one of the most imprtant things is family. Seeing the kids opening presents and enjoying themselves is the best part.
Nalini,
I love your books. I want to thank you very much for the hours of enjoyment that you have provided me.
Christmas is the people. This year my two older girls can't come home. It makes me so sad.
flip
Christmas for me has taken a huge turn since I had my daughter. Before her it was all ME ME ME. Now I honestly could care less if I get one present. To see her open a gift is perhaps the greatest joy. Her little smile lights up my life...I know understand why my mom made Christmas so incredible for me growing up- tis better to give than receive after all. Happy Holidays!!
i wished i could hide till jan2 LOL
GYPSYWITCH36@YAHOO.COM
This comment has been removed by the author.
I agree with you that Christmas is all about the people in our lives. It is a time when I can see family members who travel from far away. I enjoy the shopping for special gifts for my loved ones, and then watching them open the packages.
Hi Nalini, what a great post! And I love that word: fantabulous. Wishing you lots of what you love most about this holiday season, and I hope for some of the same myself! Don't enter me in the draw - I already have every one of your books (which are still looking fairly pristine despite the many re-reads)!
Hi Nalini,
The holidays truly are about family and friends. I love going back home for christmas. In my house, it's always loud, always chaotic, and usually filled with food. I love it all :)
Hope you have a fun and relaxing holiday, and a wonderful new year.
p.s: The cover for Branded by Fire is absolutely gorgeous!
I truly wish that people would cancel trips out of the house on Christmas and just stay home with their immediate families, nowhere to go, nothing to do but play with those new toys and each other and be thankful for all that they have.
Deidre
It definitely family. On my father's side, there were a lot of kids (and one late life surprise son, younger than his oldest niece). Add in all us grandkids and the house was a madhouse at Christmas (and not one of today's huge houses). About the time we all opened one gift, the adults would need some peace and quiet - so they packed up all the kids to go to the movies, leaving out uncle in charge. Ages ranged from probably 5 up to the late teens - but we always went to the same movie, no matter what (and seldom anything we kids were allowed to see when "real adults" went with us; although nothing near as racy or violent as today's prime time TV).
I feel the same way as you. I love the holidays for the get-togethers with friends and family. We always have a great time telling stories, jokes and catching up. Oh, and eating, too. I love all the yummy food that is around during this time of year. lol
Hi Nalini,
I love reading your books.
For me it's spending time with family and friends since we don't always have time to get together during the rest of the year.
Terri W.
I completely agree! This is my first Christmas with my new husband and at one point I worried that we were running around too much- but you're right the people are what's important. This time of year is a reminder that we have to keep other's in mind.
(We used to live in Japan as well!)
Nalini, I love having my family together on Christmas. With the four of us having a different schedule with work and night classes and all, that we hardly get to have a dinner together lately! We always watch those comedy Christmas movies on Christmas Eve along with a couple of games and the laughter is so contagious! So I'm looking forward to having that time together! Last year we needed to change how we did things and it was just one gift (plus I always put in a book too) of exchanging, but adding the fun stuff together is what made it the best!
Your so right when you say it's about the people. I'm always looking forward to finding out who will be here at Christmas. This year two of my four siblings and their families will be here. We all live in different states from coast to coast so it's not easy getting everyone together.
The first Christmas after dh & I were married we bought a live tree and darned if it didn't keep falling over. We finally got it to stay up and even though there were few ornaments it was still beautiful because it was our first tree.
Spending time with my family is what makes it special. Watching all the good Christmas shows together, baking all the cookies and fudge together, and going out and seeing all the Christmas decorations.
everyone is correct. people tmakes the holdays special
kh
Thanks for the comments everyone - I've loved hearing all your wonderful stories :)
The random numbers have spoken and the winner of the giveaway is Theo Lynne. Theo, please email me at nalinisinghwrites AT gmail DOT com and we'll sort out your prize!
I'm still trying to figure out my holiday tradtions, but we've settled into something of a routine.
Thanksgiving, we drive a couple of hours to my aunt's house, and my mom and siblings all meet up there.
Christmas morning we spend at home, so the kids can open up their presents and we can have some time with our own little family, and then Christmas afternoon we fly to my in-laws' house and stay for the week between Christmas and New Years.
Nalini - EVERYONE knows this is a fix.
Yours FURIOUSLY,
Julian
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