“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”
– Laura Ingalls Wilder
Today is Christmas Eve! And this year things have worked out quite nicely to give us a four-day weekend. I’ve really begun to cherish these rare four-day weekends. I usually make plans heading into these long weekends — plans to make the most of the extra free time, you know, real Carpe Diem “seize the day” type stuff. More often than not, the only thing I actually end up seizing is my pillow, as I roll over in bed to catch up on lost sleep. But I haven’t made any ambitious plans for this long weekend because school is out and I’m home for the holidays, so I can just relax and unwind.
This past year has been one of the most taxing years in med school yet. It’s been full of some truly incredible moments, some not-so-great moments, and some pretty horrible moments. There’s been a lot of laughter and a lot of tears, sometimes both at the same time. My final exams are in May/June, and while I’m ready for the next few months to be over so I can graduate and come home, I can already tell that there’re a lot of things I’m actually going to miss about being in med school.
But that’s a reflection for another time. For now, I’m just glad to be home, so I can spend the holidays with my family and experience Guyana during the Christmas season. The “December-January” rains seemed to have held back their best for my arrival, and two days last week were positively monsoon-like! While I griped a bit, that was actually pro-forma, since I rather enjoyed the opportunity to vegetate!!
I’ve been home a week now, and everywhere I’ve visited subsequent to the great downpour, the excitement for the holidays is palpable. The stores are thronged with people doing shopping for the holidays, stocking up their pantries for the feasts they’re about to prepare. The traffic, of course, slows to a crawl at best, but, on the other hand, allows one to reacquaint oneself with Georgetown. The new Burger King seems to have created quite a frisson of excitement!
Houses are festooned with lights and tinsel. It’s all very festive! As the old song goes: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you “Be of good cheer”
It’s the most wonderful time of the year
It’s the hap-happiest season of all
With those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings
When friends come to call
It’s the hap- happiest season of all”
Yep! It’s been only a week since I’ve been back, and it already looks like it’s shaping up to be a wonderful holiday! It’s been a week full of good food, good company, and good fun. I’ll be making the most of the week I have left, before I have to return to Trinidad for the final leg of my med school journey.
I hope everyone has a happy, safe and fun holiday! Merry Christmas!
