CHASING A FEELING

You know that storybook feeling you grew up with about the Holidays — that feeling of magic and the impossible happening. In the movies there’s typically some local disaster, mostly involving losing something or someone. In the Elf, it’s Christmas spirit. In the Grinch, well, Christmas. One of my favorites is when Ralphie is after a bee-bee gun but is chased by the constant nagging of “you’ll shot your eye out, kid.” In the end everything always come together and we’re reminded of the things that really matter — family, togetherness, community. That’s great in the movies, but sometimes we’re left with no magic. Nothing impossible has happened. In fact, the other shoe likes to drop this time of year.

We all come from different backgrounds and have our own stories and traditions we bring into the holiday’s.  Maybe you have a great ritual of putting up the tree or lighting candles. Or cooking or baking a certain something. Maybe it’s eggnog. Or one of the familiar movies mentioned. Maybe you hate the whole thing — the commercialization, the busyness, the overindulgence, the expectations, the company parties, the asking for donations. Maybe that’s why we love the Grinch so much. We’ve all stolen Christmas at one point in our lives. Or maybe that’s just me.

Yet, there’s always that feeling. What if? Some of us love lists and make and write down all those possibilities. And we make them into resolutions. Some of us daydream about it. “Wouldn’t it be cool if _________.” Other of us talk about it and make our friends all crazy with another “great idea.” This hope and expectation can sometimes be the driving force behind it all. It feels like a big build up just to be let down and left with a mess to clean up — literally.

Okay, you might be thinking this is a total downer during the holidays. You might even close this page and move back to social media scrolling, shopping, or binging your favorite show. I don’t blame you. Shoot, I may have done all those things while trying to write this, so you’re in good company. 

Back to the point. That feeling. Ga! That FEELING! Chasing that darn Holiday cheer. What if I told you there’s a dreamy little town in Northern New Mexico that is made up of all that magic? Would you take a chance? If you’ve been to Taos then you can nod in agreement. Yup, there’s something special about Toas. Something you can’t quit put your finger on.