But alas, this is my christmas image.

Do you also suffer the afflictions of the obligatory family christmas circuit? Or should I say circus?

A yearly junket in which you go on tour of the homes of the people you are related to, but seldom see otherwise throughout the year. You consume the food, endure the small talk, exchange the brightly wrapped landfill, then move on to the next stop on the tour.

Our parents did it with their siblings and cousins, now it is our duty to follow suit.

And why does it all have to occur on December 25th! It is a logistical impossibility for anyone but Santa, and he can only do it because he has magical powers, works one day a year and has a team of little slave elves doing all the heavy stuff. (And no doubt has one of those Hermione Granger time turning thingies.)

At what point can we hop off this crazy ride?

Well apparently this was the year! Or so I thought.
I caught wind of the fact that my sisters and my brother had all booked seperate trips!

Oh no you don't

I'm not being left responsible for all the relating with the relations!
So I "booked" one myself and plotted a secret staycation. A short trip, probably not too much further than my own living room, with my little family. No running around on the few days off we have together, no pretence and insincere merriment, just a relaxing time with my loved ones.

Don't get me wrong, I do love my siblings and parents, and aunties, and cousins, and in laws, and their neighbours, and their visiting friends, and overseas exchange students, but do you see how this just grows and grows!!!

Besides we do not live in each others pockets. We have very seperate lives, and the kindest of regards (most of the time) for each other, but we don't generally socialise at any other time of the year!
So why the pretence? Surely just the simple fact that we are related doesn't have us tethered to a lifetime of Christmases together? It doesn't mean that I owe them, or they owe me, those few treasured days off work to join the crazy tour of gift exchanging and pleasantries.

So it was all sorted

Except...now somehow christmas has been brought forward. Apparently we are doing christmas on December third, then again some how on December 17th!!!!!!!!!!! And that's just my side of the family. When my in laws catch wind of this, AND THEY WILL, we will have a third christmas to attend!

I do believe there are some powerful forces at play here. Heed my warning. Resistance is futile. Stay strong, December is fast approaching.

---

Christmas Karma message and doodles by @girlbeforemirror