This Christmas season is the most unsettling of my lifetime. The holiday spirit experienced so many times in the past has this year remained elusive. But perhaps it’s still here, just in a different form.
It’s easy to blame the pandemic for a feeling of isolation and gloom. The virus spreading through the world is a danger, unlike anything lived since the last great pandemic in 1918. Regardless of how people view the COVID-19 risk, how they make choices to gather as families or isolate alone, for me, at a deep level an uneasiness grips me. And those feelings paint the days of this Christmas season.
I accept this reality. It’s right in front of me every day. And rather than dwell in the thoughts and feelings, I make a choice to move ahead with my life. The decisions are mine. They may not be yours.
So in this strange time Christmas has taken on a new meaning for me. It’s not a time of family celebration, of exchanging gifts, singing carols, or any of the multitude of things I’ve taken part of in the past.
This year Christmas has become a time of spiritual reflection and a recognition of the blessings that have been bestowed upon myself, my family and friends, and the world. If you’re a Christian that celebration may focus on the birth of a Savior of the world. And if you’re not, you may find your own meaning for the holiday.
I often ride my Vespa on Christmas morning, an action to embrace solitude and give thanks for life. But this year I will remain at home and whisper a prayer for peace on earth and goodwill towards all.
Best wishes and warm regards for each of you who read these words. May the day, indeed all your days, be filled with a recognition of the good in your life. There is light in the world and there is darkness.
I choose the light.
“There is light in the world and there is darkness.
I choose the light.”
Amen to that.
Happy Christmas to you and Kim, Steve, and thank you for your consistently beautiful and grounded content.
Stay safe my friend.
Keith (UK)
Thank you Keith. Happy Christmas to you and your family.
Me too. Thanks Steve. All the best.
Chris (Lincoln UK)
Choosing to recognize the good in my life…
Thanks for the reminder, Steve.
Merry Christmas to you and Kim!
It’s easy to forget, isn’t it? Best wishes to you and your family Andy for a Merry Christmas.
Be well Chris. Merry Christmas!
I have my coffee, I have my fire, I have peace in my little part of the world in the backyard. The temperature is 51, freezing here in Florida, making it feel like Christmas what I imagine Christmas is like in your backyard. For you, I will take a little scooter ride at sunrise and wish for peace on earth.
Take care my friend.
Fifty-one degrees… Only 25 degrees warmer than here this Christmas morning. I emerged from the house this morning to find yesterday’s rain washed away most of the snow and now the ground is frozen and “dry.” The dogs enjoyed a rousing game of fetch and we then retired to the warmth of the house for breakfast.
Coffee and fire sounds like a lovely way to start the day, Christmas or otherwise. I’m glad you’ve found some peace in it. And I’ll imagine you on the road on the Vespa. I checked the road here and there’s a little too much spotty ice and snow for me to roll out.
Be well Ken and Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas to you Steve and to Kim and your loved ones. We have a thin veil of snow on the ground that fell overnight, a white Christmas. Susan and I are by ourselves. The traditions of all previous Christmases to be replaced by video conferencing today with our kids, grandkids, siblings and friends. It’s a small price to pay, doing what we are asked to do for the greater good and our own safety.
Merry Christmas and best wishes to Ken (Lostboater) and to your loved ones too.
We’re in the same place here David. Like you’ve said, a small price to pay for the greater good and our own safety. Life marches on.
Merry Christmas!
We awoke this Christmas morning to a thick blanket of white where all was bare yesterday. Simply gorgeous. Alone but together this Christmas, we are spending our first Christmas without the physical nearness of family. Certainly an adjustment but with the assistance of technology and rum and egg nog, we will muddle through. I passed by the motos on my way to our shovels this morning and alas, the bikes will remain stabled for the foreseeable. Tis a season of hope and in that spirit we are looking forward to 2021 and all the possibilities. Peace on earth and good will to all. Enjoy Steve and thank you for another thoughtful post.
It’s always been a good feeling to wake to a blanket of fresh snow. We had that recently and I have many childhood memories of such simple pleasures as fresh snow.
Alone but together — well stated. Kim and I are in the same place. And as you say we muddle along.
Hope… an important state of being, for without it life would just cease to exist in any real way. I join you in looking forward to 2021 and all those possibilities!
Happy Holidays Steve to you and family. I get a gift with each post you send regardless of the time of year. Light for sure if we choose to look up….Will ride today and look up and down and thankful for this two wheel vessel that can transport me to past, present ,and future with a little throttle twist…Peace to all and best wishes always●
Thank you for your kind words Don. It’s nice to know someone finds some small bit of value in the things I post.
Looking towards the light is a choice for me. It’s easy for me to be swept up into chaos thinking there are no choices, that I am a victim of circumstance. But if I pause and breathe, I realize there is almost always a choice to make that will lead toward the light.
Have fun on a ride today on your own, personal time machine!
Have a great holiday!
Well there is rain and 70 mph winds here in Massachusetts, so only thoughts of riding the Primavera today! Merry Christmas to you, Steve and Kim, and thanks always for your enlightening thoughts as we measure life during this pandemic… better riding days are truly ahead!
There are better days ahead Phil. Almost any day will be an improvement over 70mph winds!
Be well and have a great holiday.
It’s 55 degrees here in Dutchess County, NY. The snow is gone but better than that so is the road salt they put down last week. We have some forty and fifty degree days coming up so maybe there’s a ride in my future. the vaccine is out there and maybe by Spring the group rides will resume unabated. We wore masks at the grandchildren’s house yesterday as we watched them happily open gifts. Tomorrow we’ll gather again in our masks
Darkness?? Nah.
With a vaccine in our collective futures, a little luck, and some intelligent choices, I think a lot of things will resume.
Sounds like you have some riding weather close and are having a fine Christmas.
Be well and be safe Jim!
Merry Christmas Steve. We choose the light as well.
Best wishes to you and your family Rusty. Hope you have a fine holiday and coming new year.
Thank you Steve. I am new to your blog but find wisdom in your words. I too am working to focus on the good and the light. Best wishes for many safe and healthy miles in 2021.
Thank you Chris for your kind words and well wishes for rides to come. Glad you found some value at Scooter in the Sticks.
Great post.we all can relate.thanks for taking the time to remind us just how lucky we are.peace and safety from nh.
It’s easy to lose sight of the good things in my life. With the help of some quiet time to reflect and the fellowship of others in the world, I can get to that place where I know how lucky I am.
Be well!
A Blessed Christmas Steve to you and your family especially as we celebrate the Birth of the Baby Jesus who came to be our Savior and our Lord.
Thank you Karl. Be well and best wishes to you for a Blessed Christmas as well.
Beautifully stated, Steve! Despite the bizarre situation this year, we have much to be thankful for. This year, especially, there are so many suffering from illness, poverty, hunger, etc that we must focus our energy outward. Merry Christmas, and here’s to much better times to come.
It has certainly been a bizarre year. I have to be careful to not dwell solely on that stuff and spend some time on what is right in front of me. Doing that I gain some serenity and perspective and it is easier to help where I can.
I pray that better times lie ahead for us all.
Steve – thank you for a beautiful summary of a very difficult year. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 2020 has been a hard year for everyone. I’ve occasionally struggled to not get sucked down into any number of black holes that have thrived this year – but remaining grateful & compassionate has helped tremendously.
I’ve read your notes for many years and have always found them thoughtful and inspiring … and your excellent photos are always a pleasure. All the best to you and your family for 2021
Thank you for your kind words about this blog post. It has been a difficult year. I’ve had to time and again extricate myself from black holes. It becomes easy for others to draw conclusions for me when I mindlessly surf through things watched or read. This morning I watched a short clip of Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling talking about dictators and grabbing power and what they need to take over. A line stood out — “logic is an enemy and truth is a menace.” It seems sometimes that logic and truth have disappeared. Guarding against that allows me to remain grateful and compassionate as you point out.
Thank you for taking the time to comment today. I really do appreciate it.
Merry Christmas!
Yes, it’s easy to let the negativity overtake you, but look to the light. I like what you say. Enjoy Kim and the doggies, today and forward. I’ll toot when I pass – often do.
Thanks Robert. I’ll keep an ear open for you. Best wishes to you and Lynn for the holidays!
Merry Christmas to you and your family. This has really been an odd year and the Christmas season has seen a little bleaker. But, there is no snow on the ground, nothing is leaking or frozen and there are blue skies out the window. Not being able to ride has been missed over the last year and a half. The little bit a few weeks ago did not help due to the very icy roads. Hopefully the new year is better than the last one…
Richard,
I hope you and your wife find the new year far better than the one we soon leave behind. The whole world is hoping for something better.
steve
A positive message Steve thanks for this gift!
Brent Gudgeon
Thank you Brent. Be safe during your winter rides!
Hope you had a great Christmas, you and Kim.
Thanks Dom. Hope you, Martha and the boys did as well.
Nice reflections as usual, Steve. I share your feelings about the season. This year seems to keep trying to keep me off-balance. A year of holding on…and eventually find some balance and joy again.
Wishing you the best for the Holidays…including a belated Merry Christmas.
Off-balance and holding on. That sums it up well. Here’s to hoping the coming year has more balance and freedom!
“This Christmas season is the most unsettling of my lifetime.” This summed up this years Christmas. Staying positive when its the most difficult shows strength. Props to you.
Staying positive is a day by day challenge. But then, I only live in the present. The past and future may be relevant, and can affect me now, but I don’t live in either place.
Best to you for a fine new year.
Steve, This human made thing called ” Time” Always slips away when Nature blossoms a new landscape to another level of apparition. The snow was delight in my book. I know I didn’t see any motorbikes out and about but there was a feel good thing all the way around.
Merry Christmas, Belated
Hope you and the family had a fine Christmas Mike. And I’m sure you’re looking for a brighter 2021.
Time. It flows quietly by. Too fast. The big snow slowed things down for me. It felt as if the world stopped for a little while.