Like Santa, try to keep the glass half full this Xmas
3 UNWISE MEN Ryan, Leo and Martin I CERTAINLY won’t argue with anyone wanting to label the Three Unwise Men of the coalition – Micheal Martin, Leo Varadkar and Eamon Ryan – as collectively being the Grinch who stole Christmas.
I realise many expats were unable to journey home, but it’s best to look at the sherry glass being half full in such unprecedented times.
The luxury of Zoom puts everything into perspective when you remember there’s sadly no wi-fi on the Stairway To Heaven.
One of my friends, who sadly died young, used to live for this time of the year. You’d always find him in silly festive jumpers and drinking eggnog and even roasting chestnuts on an open fire.
It was remarkable how the poor guy kept up such joviality because he’d been dealt a horrible blow during his teens one Christmas Day.
His father was found dead in bed – still clutching the book my friend had given him earlier that morning as his Christmas gift.
But he told me: “It’s not under any circumstances the memory that first comes to mind when I think about Christmas.”
I’d wager the pandemic won’t be the first thing we will all think about when reflecting back on this Christmas.
The lockdown did not stop anybody from getting in the festive mood by listening to Andre Rieu’s Jolly Holiday album while cooking the turkey and ham.
But I did feel sorry for children deprived of the opportunity to excitedly queue outside Santa’s grotto.
I chuckle whenever I think about sitting on Santa’s knee and getting a peculiar whiff off his beard.
I only later put my finger on the smell when helping my grandmother pour stout into the pudding mix.
The pandemic, in fairness, hasn’t robbed children of most enjoyable memories associated with Christmas.
It is all truly about the power of the imagination.
They will remember the buzz from putting out milk and cookies for Santa and carrots for his reindeer.
I fondly recall sneaking downstairs at dawn one Christmas Day – only to freeze because I my overactive imagination was convinced Santa was there. Petrified, I stayed put for what seemed like an eternity and later kicked myself when I realised the red glow was merely the tree lights.
It would never be a proper Christmas for me if I didn’t stick on my DVD of The Wizard Of Oz.
I first watched it on our actual first colour TV while sitting on my late father’s lap one Christmas Eve.
I was shrieking with delight one moment and then hiding behind his back the next.
I don’t remember what gifts were waiting for me under the tree that year.
But I’ll never forget my dad gently coaxing me up to bed later that night with a piggyback ride and lovingly tucking me in. He was blessed it was before VHS machines because I would’ve watched it non- stop. I viewed it two days ago and I could feel my dad’s spirit was very much beside me throughout every twist and turn of the yellow brick road.
I appreciate Christmas is a religious highlight for practising Catholics.
But for most of us it’s all about being with family and seeing the merriment in children’s eyes when unwrapping presents.
Youngsters will cherish such memories for the rest of their lives – long after all of us adults have shuffled off this mortal coil.
I heard Bono was sometimes spotted outside his old childhood home in Ballymun during Christmas or New Year’s Day in the 1990s. It just goes to show how even rich stars in ivory towers can’t put a price on happy childhood memories. I myself called into my former home after my father’s burial.
As I stood in my old sitting room, I thought it curious how the first memory to come flooding back was of my dad singing along to a Christmas No1 hit. It all felt very lyrical because the song in question was Stay Another Day by East 17.
I think he’d have changed his tune to U2’s New Year’s Day if still alive.
As Bono sings on it, “We will break through” in 2021 – thanks to the new vaccine.
Pandemic has not robbed kids of most enjoyable Xmas memories
As Bono sings in New Year’s Day, ‘We will break through’ in 2021