Saturday, December 24, 2005

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2005

Köln


I passed my Level One German test. It’s not a huge accomplishment in the scheme of things but I am relieved and feel a smidgen of pride that I actually got through it and did pretty well – aging fart that I am. All of my colleagues were under 21 … I have shoes that old … well nearly! I still have (and wear) an old cashmere sweater I bought in 1981.
First Christmas in the Old World. We will be spending it with family out in the country an hour from Köln. It doesn’t feel terribly like Christmas. I should qualify that - I don’t feel much like Christmas this year. I have a great deal to be thankful for … first and foremost the health and well being of His Holiness, who is still sleeping just down the hall. He has no idea yet what Christmas is all about, even though he’s been to the Weihnachtsmarkt every day to ride the carousel and has seen tha lights and the nativity scene. He will certainly enjoy the gifts he’ll receive from relatives tomorrow … but Papa has not engaged the Christmas spirit this year … I can’t explain why but I just don’t feel it. I hope and expect that next year, when he is 3 and a lot more plugged in to the world, we will celebrate the season more exuberantly. Maybe I have the holiday blues, could be, but maybe it’s more than that. Maybe it’s something I shouldn’t be writing about … or even admitting to myself.