Happy Halloween to all of you out there! It is being celebrated here, mostly by businesses wanting to exploit its financial aspect. They have probably noticed what an economic bonus it is for Americans in retail. Tivoli has Halloween decorations up and it is absolutely charming, and various and sundry shops have one lone jack-o-lantern out front.
The YSAs however are disdainful of the silly borrowed celebration day. They refuse to mark it as anything special. I think they have a point. It is great fun in the States to watch the little ones have so much fun with it....the costumes, the candy and the fun. But by and large, it is a money-making orgy for anyone enterprising enough to market their wares as Halloween products.
We took the bus to the temple early this afternoon and spent the day and evening serving, coming home around 10:00. It was lovely to be there. Throughout our time in the temple we saw several of our YSAs.....among them, two young women who try to attend at least twice a week....each will be leaving on her mission in December...one to France and one to Denver, Colorado.
There were also two young elders who are serving in Iceland. They were here for a couple of days on mission business and took the time to be in the temple. It is just plain exciting to see their willingness to sacrifice their time to be there.
It is beginning to feel like the holiday season in Copenhagen. It is completely dark just after 5 p.m. and cold....good things cooking send out delicious aromas into the cold air....people are bundled up and talking excitedly.....and the real giveaway: everyone (stores and businesses) is putting up Christmas decorations and putting out Christmas merchandise.
Tivoli will close this weekend for a couple of weeks while they take down the Halloween/Fall decor and put up Christmas. I can hardly wait....last year it was so charming to wander through that place.
It is worth it to be cold. It is so fun to come in out of the cold. It is so fun to bundle up in a warm coat, scarf, gloves and boots and crunch along in the snow. It is fun to walk into warm homes, churches, the center and shops. It is so nice to be out and feel the excitement of Christmas shopping. The sounds of the city hall's bells echo in the most charming way through the cool night air. And when is hot chocolate any better than on a cold frosty evening?
Hey....I think I am ready for the holidays.
Yes you are ready for the holidays but are you ever going to want to come home with such beauties surrounding you?!?!
ReplyDeleteYes! To clear blue skies and gorgeous sunsets silhouetting graceful Palm trees...familiar little faces in costumes at our front door, oranges on the tree twenty feet from the back door, cleansing rain, cotton fields and citrus groves, Jo's BBQ, very short walks to see loved ones, grandparents day at the school, watching Andrew at track meets, going to piano recitals and choir concerts....waiting for our our special ones to perform. Yes....we'll be ready to come home.
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