Thali, your reflections on Christmas deeply resonate with me. Like you, I grew up in a Catholic country and attended Catholic school, yet my home life was secular.
This made me cherish the non-religious Christmas, the best night for staying up late, playing hide and seek, trying not to knock down any of the thousands of grandma's Christmas decorations, and the battles of tossing bread crumbs at each other with my cousins at dinner.
As I ponder the future and the kind of Christmas I wish to provide for my own children, I'm inspired by your story. I want to give them freedom, knowledge, genuine kindness, and empathy, but magic is also part of this equation.
Your journey of building Christmas, brick by brick, with its unique blend of reality and wonder, gives me hope. It reminds me that while "Merry Christmas" might not always feel fully sincere, the holiday spirit is ours to define and refine, season after season, into something deeply personal and uniquely joyous for our families.
You make me smile. Your writing is so very true to what I see of Thali Sugisawa!
I'm honored, amused and touched that I am included in your thoughts (even if wistful) about Christmas! My Christmas is richer because you have popped up in it - at our performances, on my screen, and with the hopeful promise of a visit on Boxing Day!
So sad to learn that you were not able to start off with magical Christmas memories, but it is nice you are trying to create some great memories and new traditions for your daughter. This year, you have certainly gifted us, your readers, with much joy through your story-telling! Thank you for the peace and calm you share with us through your blog, and I very much am looking forward to what you will bring us in 2024! Happy holidays, and best wishes for the New Year.
Thali, your reflections on Christmas deeply resonate with me. Like you, I grew up in a Catholic country and attended Catholic school, yet my home life was secular.
This made me cherish the non-religious Christmas, the best night for staying up late, playing hide and seek, trying not to knock down any of the thousands of grandma's Christmas decorations, and the battles of tossing bread crumbs at each other with my cousins at dinner.
As I ponder the future and the kind of Christmas I wish to provide for my own children, I'm inspired by your story. I want to give them freedom, knowledge, genuine kindness, and empathy, but magic is also part of this equation.
Your journey of building Christmas, brick by brick, with its unique blend of reality and wonder, gives me hope. It reminds me that while "Merry Christmas" might not always feel fully sincere, the holiday spirit is ours to define and refine, season after season, into something deeply personal and uniquely joyous for our families.
Thank you for sharing it!
You make me smile. Your writing is so very true to what I see of Thali Sugisawa!
I'm honored, amused and touched that I am included in your thoughts (even if wistful) about Christmas! My Christmas is richer because you have popped up in it - at our performances, on my screen, and with the hopeful promise of a visit on Boxing Day!
So sad to learn that you were not able to start off with magical Christmas memories, but it is nice you are trying to create some great memories and new traditions for your daughter. This year, you have certainly gifted us, your readers, with much joy through your story-telling! Thank you for the peace and calm you share with us through your blog, and I very much am looking forward to what you will bring us in 2024! Happy holidays, and best wishes for the New Year.