One of the best Christmases I ever spent was in Paris, in a borrowed flat with the boy I love. We lit candles, cooked dinner, listened to "Silver Bells" and "River," and ate copious amounts of Nutella. It was peaceful, lovely and deliciously romantic.
This year, due to limited funds and vacation time, I'll be looking forward to my solo version of a peaceful, lovely day: homemade soup, goofy pajamas, tea and bourbon, a movie marathon and long phone calls with the aforementioned young man (who is in upstate New York, where it actually snows on Christmas like it's supposed to).
But that's in a few weeks. First, there are holiday parties to attend, special events and concerts around town to go to, chestnuts to roast on an open fire (or in the oven), decorations to put up, all that stuff that comes with chilly December.
So, being effectively on my own this yuletide season, I sought to be reminded of why the holidays just might be better without a plus-one.
"You don't have to argue about which relatives to visit, you don't have to agonize over finding (and spending the right amount on) a gift," said Aggie, who also pointed out that with no one to please, "you get to indulge fully in all the guilty pleasures that an extra few days off provides (e.g., James Bond marathons, prolonged wearing of pjs)."
Let's also add reruns of cheesy holiday episodes on TV, hot toddies and enough candy canes to horrify the dentist. Any others? I'm feeling encouraged.
While Aggie and I enjoy our guilty pleasures, Andy will enjoy a mix of familial warmth and collegial debauchery.
"I get to chill out at my parents' for a week having all my meals cooked," he said, "then come back to London to get drunk and go sharking on NYE. I shudder at the thought of potentially driving hundreds of miles to spend Christmas with someone else's parents."
Aggie also reminds us that being single and mingling provides, "free license to make out with somebody hot and totally forgettable on New Year's Eve."
For the actually single folks out there, getting a free pass to kiss sexy strangers is a must. Because the rest of the year, doing so might get you slapped. And while that's good column fodder for me, you might not like it.
Actually though, someone please go try it and then report back to me. I'll consider it a belated Christmas present.
Contact Holly Leber at hleber@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6391. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/hollyleber.