The holidays are here; we might as well give in to the madness | Suzy Fleming Leonard

Suzy Fleming Leonard, Florida Today
·3 min read

And so it begins: Six weeks of disruptions.

I like to think of myself as a creative type, a little goofy, avant-garde, even. That's my excuse for my tendency to keep a messy desk and run between three and seven minutes late for everything. I'm just too artsy to be on time.

The reality is, I'm a creature of habit. I love a routine.

Maybe it's 20 years of living with a man whose entire job is planning, scheduling and organization. Maybe it's because I've spent 35 years living with poodles, dogs who can tell time and aren't shy about letting me know when they're ready for a walk, dinner or bed.

Whatever the cause, I'm comforted by my daily rituals of taking the dogs out, reading Dear Abby and solving the crossword puzzle, then moving on to Wordle and Connections on the New York Times games page.

I like my Saturday morning walks along the river, followed by breakfast at Ossorio Bakery & Cafe in Cocoa Village, and I love Wednesday evening dinner with my Cocoa-Rockledge Crew.

I also love being settled in on my sofa by 7 p.m. every other week night with my iPad in hand and Mayim Bialik or Ken Jennings on TV.

So pardon me while I have a mini-meltdown at the thought of six weeks of guests, mid-week gatherings, over-eating, under-exercising and general chaos.

Squeeeeeeeeeee!

There. I feel better. Meltdown over.

The holidays definitely put a crimp in our regular routines. But it's fun to embrace all craziness this time of year has to offer, like the annual Christmas Eve Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach.
The holidays definitely put a crimp in our regular routines. But it's fun to embrace all craziness this time of year has to offer, like the annual Christmas Eve Surfing Santas in Cocoa Beach.

Now I can get back to the wonder of the season. The guests, the mid-week gatherings. All the over-eating and under-exercising. The beautiful, fantabulous chaos.

Looking forward to a brief visit with cousins as they spend a night in town on their way to a Thanksgiving cruise. I've loved having my fall decorations out, but I can't wait to pack them away and let the Christmas bomb explode in my house.

I'm excited about spending hours in the kitchen, making dishes that remind me of people and places I've loved. I'm eager to address Christmas cards, a time to reflect on friendships new and old and the places each hold in my heart.

I'll forego a morning crossword for the chance to meet a pal for chai tea and chit-chat. I don't mind missing "Jeopardy!" if it means dinner and laughter with my book club.

The shopping, the wrapping, the Surfing Santas, the sappy Hallmark movies: I'm ready for it all. Much to my husband's chagrin, I switched the car radio to a 24/7 Christmas station as soon as November hit double digits. If you pull up next to me at a stoplight, don't make fun of the solo concert going on in the driver's seat.

Bye-bye, routine. The holidaze are here.

Let those festive disruptions begin.

Suzy Fleming Leonard is a features journalist with more than three decades of experience. Reach her at sleonard@floridatoday.com. Find her on Facebook: @SuzyFlemingLeonard or on Instagram: @SuzyLeonard. 

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: How do I cope with holiday stress? Give in to the madness and enjoy