One exam down - only 23 left to go to complete my new degree. Sounds really daunting. But I am not really thinking of that ...
All I can think about right now is how much I wish I was at home. In Africa. I have made another memory, without my old friends and family around. Another milestone. And it's occurred to me at some point today , that this is only the beginning. The start of all those new memories and milestones that they will not be a part of . The paths that were together , and then were running in parallel for a while , are now , ever so slightly starting to go off at different angles.
It's christmas next - which is all good an well for people like me that aren't christian , but , even so - I was raised christian-ish . And even after I chose differently in terms of believing or not - I have always spent christmas day with my family. It's rather handy being able to take a public holiday that means nothing to you in terms of religion.
Last year was absolutely riveting with the addition of my nephew to the family. He was old enough to understand what presents were, and he was oooh-ing and aaahh-ing and then ripping off the paper. I have some very special video footage of him WWE wrestling with his brand-new Tigger ( bigger than he was at the time ) - with the over the head throw-downs and that bit where they jump and land on you as if they are smashing you with their elbow ( c'mon , we all know what's really going on ..... besides , my brother even very honestly refers to wrestling as soapies for men)
Christmas has nothing to do with christ, or the christian faith. It's all about the children.
I know Hindu devotees , who will put up a christmas tree and decorate their house , and buy their children presents....and cook a roast chicken on christmas day ..... why ? Because doing those things doesn't detract from their faith. And those traditions , have bugger all to do with christ.
Christmas is a hijacked pagan holiday, this mishmash of old germanic traditions , and yule celebrations . With a bit of the Dionysus myth thrown in for good measure ( google it - I don't have time for a history lesson).
And despite knowing all of this , and the fact that the day has no religious significance for me- all I want for christmas - is to see my nephew when he opens the presents that we bought him. And to be there to spoil him rotten before he's grown past the point where he'll forget who I am. It always happens with family overseas.
I'd take 2 front teeth over this feeling anyday.
All I can think about right now is how much I wish I was at home. In Africa. I have made another memory, without my old friends and family around. Another milestone. And it's occurred to me at some point today , that this is only the beginning. The start of all those new memories and milestones that they will not be a part of . The paths that were together , and then were running in parallel for a while , are now , ever so slightly starting to go off at different angles.
It's christmas next - which is all good an well for people like me that aren't christian , but , even so - I was raised christian-ish . And even after I chose differently in terms of believing or not - I have always spent christmas day with my family. It's rather handy being able to take a public holiday that means nothing to you in terms of religion.
Last year was absolutely riveting with the addition of my nephew to the family. He was old enough to understand what presents were, and he was oooh-ing and aaahh-ing and then ripping off the paper. I have some very special video footage of him WWE wrestling with his brand-new Tigger ( bigger than he was at the time ) - with the over the head throw-downs and that bit where they jump and land on you as if they are smashing you with their elbow ( c'mon , we all know what's really going on ..... besides , my brother even very honestly refers to wrestling as soapies for men)
Christmas has nothing to do with christ, or the christian faith. It's all about the children.
I know Hindu devotees , who will put up a christmas tree and decorate their house , and buy their children presents....and cook a roast chicken on christmas day ..... why ? Because doing those things doesn't detract from their faith. And those traditions , have bugger all to do with christ.
Christmas is a hijacked pagan holiday, this mishmash of old germanic traditions , and yule celebrations . With a bit of the Dionysus myth thrown in for good measure ( google it - I don't have time for a history lesson).
And despite knowing all of this , and the fact that the day has no religious significance for me- all I want for christmas - is to see my nephew when he opens the presents that we bought him. And to be there to spoil him rotten before he's grown past the point where he'll forget who I am. It always happens with family overseas.
I'd take 2 front teeth over this feeling anyday.
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