Visions of Bully Sticks Danced in Their Heads: Holiday Traditions

This first Christmas without Merlin weighs heavy on me. I am not sure whether my dogs feel the same but I suspect that they share a bit of my melancholy. One can never be sure so I aim to make their holiday as similar to past ones as I can.

I confess that I almost didn’t put up a Christmas tree this year. Oh, I decorated all right. In fact, I decorated earlier than usual, though not as elaborately. Missing are the lights on my lovely wooden privacy fence that would normally fill the winter night with a glow. But the inside of the house is almost as usual. I needed that much.

However, the typical routine was for Merlin to lie comfortably on the couch while watching me traipse about with a ladder, swearing occasionally and making a huge mess. My other dogs were never interested in watching this debacle and that tradition maintained itself this year. That alone made decorating much more somber.

So I decided that instead of a tree, I would decorate my many very large indoor floor houseplants. That plan lasted until this past weekend when I just “had” to have a tree. I’m not sure if it was for myself or to make sure that my dogs had as many of the same traditions this year that they’ve had in the past, or a bit of both. Either way, it’s up, it’s lit. The dogs know that pretty boxes and bags full of lovely smells typically get placed around it…boxes that they’ll get to open at some point in time. I wanted that feeling to be here this year, despite our huge loss. Putting boxes under the Sheffelera they live with year round would not allow me to honestly say that I was carrying on the tradition.

Kera waiting patiently near the Christmas Tree.

My dogs have always gravitated toward the tree and like to lie near it, but they have never bothered it. They always seem to have found it as peace invoking as I have. Maybe because we have always been such an outdoorsy family; the woods are in our blood. Pine trees equal peace. As I write, three dogs are sleeping deeply around me, one of them in front of the tree.

Their stockings are hung, some of their presents are bought (okay, I am not an early shopper) and they will have their usual holiday traditions that they’re used to. Decorations as usual, constant carols on the radio, wrapping gifts in secret, opening a gift each on Christmas Eve, a hike the next morning after more gifts, chewies while the turkey dinner cooks, family for dinner and sleepy full-bellied lounging after dinner, perhaps chewing on a bone. Our loss will not be forgotten that day but I will make sure that Merlin’s memory is honored by continuing with the traditions that he so loved. Traditions are important. We will, of course, make new ones in time but comfort comes from those we know and love.

So, to continue with the new tradition of a more interactive blog, I want to hear about your holiday traditions with your own crew, regardless of the particular holiday that you celebrate.

May the spirit of this season be with you as often as possible, all year ‘round.

Blessings.

Debby.