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Christmas closing in
Usual holiday stress compounded by economy this year
Patricia Hall is among a swarm of shoppers at Santa Rosa Plaza on Saturday. Underlying the hectic days before Christmas this year is concern about the economy.
KENT PORTER / The Press DemocratPublished: Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 11:59 a.m.
With Christmas fast approaching, the usual stress of vanishing holiday minutes is compounded by widespread hard times that have, in some form or another, impacted almost every resident in the North Coast.
There will be the perennial frenzy of last-minute shopping, attempts to beat eleventh-hour shipping deadlines and the inescapable worry over travel plans. But now, underlying the next few hectic days will be thoughts like: Can I afford this? Is this practical? What if I lose my job next year?
On the bright side, the weather promises to be forgiving, movie theaters are offering new blockbuster distractions for families and friends, and opportunities abound to give to others less fortunate.
And so, the traditional message remains the same, and in some cases is reinforced.
“We have to remember that Christmas is a time for giving,” said Cristina Ruiz, a Windsor mom who was Christmas shopping with her family at Coddingtown Mall. “It's not a time when we should expect to receive something.”
Kit Furukawa of Petaluma took a break Saturday from the shopping frenzy at Santa Rosa Plaza to rest on a bench with her daughter, Kristina, 18, who is visiting from college for the holidays.
She's trying to “keep things simple,” Furukawa said. “Because of the economy, it does make me think along those lines, with everybody struggling.”
When the economy was flooded with money, people were more easily affected by the usual barrage of commercial advertising during the holidays, she said. It's different this year, and several North Coast residents agreed that hard times have brought the focus back to the family.
But it isn't easy.
Keeping track of personal business while also going about one's official business can be a topsy-turvy undertaking, and it's valuable to keep some basic things in mind.
“Balance is a huge key,” said Peg Ledner-Spaulding, interim director of outpatient behavioral health services at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
“Don't drop your exercise class because you need to go shopping,” said Ledner-Spaulding, a licensed clinical social worker.
In general, “rebalance your thinking about the ‘shoulds' and the ‘have to's,'” she said. “Opt out if you're overwhelmed.”
Also on her recommended list: spend time with loved ones, see a movie, go for a hike and get some daylight — it helps your brain chemistry.
There's a strong chance that Mother Nature will accommodate the need for some sun, at least on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Forecasters at the National Weather Service said that the cold front expected to move in today, bringing with it a chance of rain through Monday night, could give way to sunny skies Thursday and Friday.
At Coddingtown Mall, Azieb Gebresslasie of Santa Rosa said the holiday could be celebrated more simply.
“Where I'm from, it's all about family, getting together and eating, ” said Gebresslasie, who emigrated from Eritrea 27 years ago. “It's not about things. We need to get back to that.”
As shoppers concentrated on the names of loved ones on their shopping lists, Dave Hunt, a semi-retired Santa Rosa building contractor, took time out to visit Santa Rosa Memorial Park & Mortuary. Hunt and a maintenance worker who was raking up leaves were the only people at the cemetery Friday.
Hunt, using his foot to sweep away dried leaves from half-buried grave markers, searched for his sister-in-law's father, Calvin Kirk, a heavy equipment operator who spent many proud years paving roads and highways all over the world.
“He died around this time,” Hunt said. “I just came to say, ‘It's been another good year.'”
Like so many others, Hunt said there's too much stress around the holidays. His advice to the frantic: “Do what I'm doing here. Be thankful.”
Religious services throughout the North Coast this week will offer local Christians plenty of opportunity for spiritual reflection. Services range from a live nativity scene with carol singers at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, held by Spring Hills Community Church on Wednesday and Thursday, to afternoon, evening and late-night candlelight worship on Christmas Eve.
But with less than a week to go before Christmas, a big preoccupation is last-minute shopping.
Rachel Valenzuela, principal at Monroe Elementary School, was among those taking part in Super Saturday, the last Saturday of shopping before Christmas.
Valenzuela was accompanied by her children and her husband, Santa Rosa City Schools attorney George Valenzuela. The Valenzuelas said they had done much of their shopping online and started early.
They said the next few days will be spent planning for a Christmas celebration at their house for about 30 friends and family members. With shopping out of the way, the coming week will also be a time for the kind of reflection that comes during uncertain times.
“Enjoy the time you have now with friends and family,” she said.
Staff Writer Jeremy Hay contributed to this story. You can reach Staff Writer Martin Espinoza at 521-5213 or martin.espinoza@pressdemocrat.com.
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