anonimousleen

[anonimousleen]

Should I give Up or should I just Keep Chasing Pavements, even if it leads nowhere~

[anonimousleen]

'THAT TIME OF THE YEAR'

The time of year I always look forward to more than my birthday is the season of giving; Christmas. It’s a time when families come together to celebrate, and for me, it has always been my favorite season. I love the December breeze, the ringing of church bells for Misa de Gallo, and the sound of children’s carols. What makes Christmas special is that it’s the only holiday when I can spend time with my loved ones—those nearby and those who live far away. On regular days, they are busy with their own lives and some are tied up with work. When I was little, Christmas was the only occasion when my father could take a break from work and celebrate with us. I would be so disappointed and would retreat to my room in tears if he was called away to work, even on a holiday. I remember one particular dinner where I cried at the table—not out of sadness, but because I was overwhelmed with joy. My family was shocked and asked me why I was crying. I told them it was because of a song playing in the background that reminded me of the past, and they laughed. I thought it was a bit silly, but it was genuine emotion, and they were right—I was too emotional! Like many children, I looked forward to receiving gifts at Christmas, but I also understood from a young age that my parents had to budget their money to sustain our needs. Because of this, I hesitated to ask them for presents. Instead, I received gifts from kind neighbors and my godmother. An elderly couple lived across the street from us, and every Christmas, they would give gifts to the children in the neighborhood, including me. I was very grateful for their kindness; I even received a teddy bear from them once. My godmother also did her best to give me presents. She had given me a Christmas gift bag before and told me to open it only on Christmas Day. I waited and counted the days, but the day before Christmas Eve, I couldn’t contain my excitement anymore and opened it. Inside were a fairy doll, a cute heart-shaped purse, and a big Bingo biscuit. My mother saw me opening it and just laughed at my impatience. I also remember receiving “Pamaskong Handog” packages filled with Fudgee bars and Milos, which made me so happy. My mother let me eat as many as I wanted. No matter how many Milos I finished—since I preferred to eat it rather than drink it—she would let me. I could also watch Tinkerbell with my cousins because they had a DVD player, and I enjoyed playing around freely with them in the neighborhood, which I couldn’t do on regular days. Those were the moments I missed the most during the Christmas season of my childhood. As I grew older, Christmas changed for me, but I still look forward to this special holiday every year as an adult. The magic of the season hasn’t disappeared; it has simply transformed as I have grown.