師走

師走(しわす or shiwasu) is the ancient name for December, a month of hustle and bustle, as people prepare for Christmas, the New Year and more importantly, springcleaning of one's mind and soul. I'm not a Christmas-y person, simply because it's become so commercialised; it's no longer a season of giving, but a season of coerced consumerism. Spoils it all.

Family is doing away with all inexcusable extravagance this time, especially when Dad's overseas. Christmas shouldn't be about excessive spending anyway. We'll be sitting down together tonight, including Jack, and having a great home-cooked Western dinner. No 50-bucks turkey, no quiches, no Christmas lights, but we'll be blissfully happy. And will probably be happier if Dad could be around.

Merry Christmas.