Hometown Holidays

Our little West Seattle neighborhood has a holiday theme called Hometown Holidays in the Junction. As I previously mentioned, the Junction is 1-1/2 miles from our house that we will often walk to. There is always a lot of activity happenin' at the Junction. Yesterday, Bruce and I stopped in at True Value Hardware at the Junction and lo and behold, Santa!

We've been in this store a lot since moving here and I couldn't believe how they have transformed it for Christmas. It was beautiful for just a hardware store. Really? There was refreshments, of course, and plenty for everyone.

I got some hot spiced cider and some popcorn...then I mostly watched Santa interact with all the kids (as Bruce shopped for a tarp). This Santa was so real looking.

I am always intrigued with Santas who are real looking, what can I say. Even his voice...

They had gift giving for everyone. You would spin the wheel

and whatever color the arrow landed on, you could pick a gift from the corresponding colored bin. And it was busy.

I just couldn't bring myself to participate. Since our moving, I still have an aversion to accumulating more stuff so I was happy to just watch the Santa while I waited for Bruce. I also looked at all their interesting decorations while I sipped on my hot spiced cider.

I usually don't approve of Christmas activities before Thanksgiving because I want to make the most of Thanksgiving. I get annoyed that Thanksgiving gets overlooked by all the Christmas commercialism. But I've changed this year. I am so excited about my first Hometown Holiday, I just want to absorb it all. For the first time in 17 years, I am actually in my Hometown for the Holidays and I am so excited. I could actually do all my needed preparation within walking distance! I remember one year before we moved to Idaho - when Nick and Lauren were little and Bruce and I bought presents for both our families - I was so proud of myself because I did all my Christmas shopping without ever going to a mall. (And thats a lot of shopping!) I use to hate malls and all the stress of shopping. I am so ready for a simplified life now and to enjoy the things in life that are really important. I am ready to savor the things I am thankful for, and I am so ready for a Hometown Holiday season again. I am ready to just walk to any shopping and never go to another mall. Even though it's not even Thanksgiving yet, I welcome seeing Santa. Especially when he looks so real.

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