I had a teeth-cleaning appointment at the Dentist a couple of weeks ago. The hygienist is personable and always asks questions while my mouth is fully open exposing a set of teeth in ‘ready-to-be-cleaned’ position. It must be a lonely job, just hearing yourself talk with a client who mostly can’t respond.
This time around the question of the day was:
“What’s your favorite holiday?”
And this time around, she climbed out of my mouth, looked me in the eye (she’s a pro – she can locate those eyeballs amidst the open mouth-face) and waited for a response.
I had none at that immediate moment.
She filled the silence by answering her own question with the standard (at least it seems that way to me after all these years of living) “I don’t like the hype of Christmas, etc etc, it’s no fun anymore, etc, etc, SO: my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving”…no surprise. Sorry to say, but I’ve heard all that a million times before to where it sounds a bit trite. But, I get it.
During the next extended open-mouth segment, I pondered her question. I realized my answer to that question has not only morphed over the years, but I could express in a ‘sound bite’ (pun actually unintended!) a sort of reason for my response in the response itself. Kind of important given the brief time for articulation available while in The Chair.
“For me, my favorite holiday is anytime the family gets to be together.”
My, aren’t I clever?
I love the October-November period of Remembrance, family, Fallen, ancestors etc.
But as far as holidays are concerned it’s Christmas. I love that sentimentality of early memories, when childhood and schooldays were magical. The cold, dark night of Midnight Mass singing Silent Night and Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem. Light in darkness, it’s a symbolism I go for.
Incidentally Jen’s favourite day of the year is Christmass Eve. Despite the chaos.
Thanks Andy (and Jen) – So relate-able, so well put.
The idea of an actual ‘period of Remembrance’ is something I think I’ll explore/focus on more readily – thanks for that.
It’s not a simple answer, yet you said it very well, Laura. Ditto!
Thanks!
Not a simple answer, though I guess I can say all of them, with a few simple ingredients: a good coffee, water, meat, vegetables and one or two sweets-after that it is TOO much and I feel awful but mostly about the gathering of family and/or friends. Most important to me is the companionship, meaningful conversation, a good dose of gratitude, shared hugs, saying grace at the table together and a walk outdoors. All that goes a long way in refreshing my soul. Christmas brings that when I escape the shopping habit and my focus is on the connection to a Higher Power and others rather than gimme, gimme. Also Thanksgiving and Easter. I love summer holidays when I can escape to , and commune with, nature.
Sounds like my idea of a ‘favorite’ holiday scenario,too!
You may live far away in Vancouver, Jane, but we’re buds at (he)art!
I’m a nervous nelly at the dentist, so I absolutely love it when the hygienist and dentist talk to me as they work. Anything to get me distracted! – Marty
Marty, thanks for another perspective from The Chair
😉
Hi Laura! I think they are all taught that in school – to talk to you with your mouth wide open and you cannot possibly respond. I agree, I don’t care what the holiday is as long as we’re together. Happy Sunday! ~smile~ Roseanne
I’m just thankful there are people out there who don’t mind getting their hands dirty (!) cleaning my teeth – HA!
🙂
Happy Sunday backatchya, Roseanne.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday also 🙂
HA!
Enjoy your Big Day!
I’m with you, Laura, anytime the family is together it’s the best. That said, I do love Christmas. Not the commercialization, but the music, the lights and the true meaning.
Thanks for taking the time to drop by here and comment, Jill. I hope your sabbatical from blogging is refreshing your senses.
May this year’s Christmas be a special blessing for you and your family.
My favorite holiday is Memorial Day. I like the weather then, warm but not humid + hot. I like how all the roses + trees are doing their pretty things. I like decorating flower pots with little flags. I like being outside on a porch or deck with a cool beverage. And I like the idea of focusing on gratitude directed toward people who gave their lives so that I can enjoy the day. The day resonates with me.
Ahhh, sounds great, Ally.
Good response especially while in the dentist chair! Halloween is my favourite.
Thanks, Andrea.
Somehow I pegged you for a Halloween-er!
🙂
love going to dentists, hairdressers (when the blow dryer is going) so I don’t have to talk
I am not a chatty person and welcome the silence.
Yeah, I tend to want that silence, too. I think the gals doing those jobs feel like their clients **expect** chattiness…
Good question. I used to say Christmas, but these days, I don’t have a favorite. Getting together with family has been difficult lately. Still like Christmas and Easter though.
I understand about the hardships involved with getting together with family – we’ve been navigating that for a few years now. The best part for me as a Mom is seeing how our Adult kiddos really want to get together regardless of the obstacles! And we come up with various ways of enabling those special times.
Yep, I am loved 🙂
I pray you and yours will get to share these coming weeks in a variety of ways.