The last days have been filled with late breakfasts, traditional food and watching Christmas movies and old tapes. As much as I love spending lazy days in my pajamas while recovering from the food coma I've been in since Christmas Eve, I've now got hit by the need to get up, be productive and actually do something else than just eat, sleep and watch my old self embarass my current self on camera.
It is now 09:18, and looking out the window, there is finally a glimpse of light, some pink and blue melting together, taking away my excuse to stay in bed longer just because 'it is still dark'. It's only been four months since I left Norway, but I had already forgotten how short these winter days tend to be. All my respect goes to the people who manage to not fall into the trap of winter depression at this time of the year. I finally understand why you jog past our house every morning in the sunshine, dear relatively old but more fit than me-Anette (let's just call her that).
Just for the sake of a little recap of my holiday at home so far: I've been given roses, had some lovely meals and fell asleep with the feeling of wanting to relive it all again. No, I have not magically found a boyfriend this Christmas. When I came home, apparently my best friend couldn't wait to see me, so she stopped by in the evening to actually bring me a bouquet of roses (oh what a lucky idiot I am), and to catch up on the most important things that have happened lately. The next day, we managed to build a gingerbread house together, even though we had to kill one of our chocolate Santas just to secure the roof, but I guess it still counts. At least we managed to make the Christmas tree look festive, which to be fair, would've been impressive if we had managed not to, considering all the lights and tinsel.
Being away for four months made me realize how important it is to spend some time with my family. When they are part of your everyday life, you don't usually notice the bond you have, a bond I don't want to just throw away. That's why I wanted to dedicate the days of Christmas to some quality time with my family. Like every year, Santa did a pretty good job again, we had our Christmas meal together, watched the annual Christmas movies we've seen so many time before but oh boy, do they never get old. My father managed to find some old tapes from when my brother and I were younger, so we've spent the last evenings watching four straight hours of embarassment and me singing like I was auditioning for X Factor.
Given that I wasn't at home when my brother and I turned 18, we figured we could celebrate it together now; because who wouldn't like to spend even more money and eat unhealthy but oh so delicious food right after Christmas? Against the will of my grumpy brother, who didn't really want to do anything else than to beat me in chess (again), I came up with the idea to go to one of my favourite restaurants in the nearest town. Just to not blame all the money spending on me, it's worth to mention that it was actually my father, who suggested we could go to the cinema later on. By coincidence, we actually saw the follow up of a movie we had watched together before, called The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (long title, but I swear it was hilarious). The title of the new one was just as long, but even my brother nearly laughed his lungs out, so I would definitely call it a success.
Now it's time to start thinking about the next days ahead and the new year. It sounds equally scary as exciting, but I love this annual feeling of a fresh start. If you think about it, it's a day and a year just like any other, but it still brings with it some motivation to make it the best one so far.
I hope you've all had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying the few days that are left from this year. I will now go and make sure to do the same.
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