Here comes Christmas, bounding over the
hilltops of the calendar weekends like an overexcited puppy. It’s
almost here, and ready to give you a big, wet lick in the face.
Christmas, that time nominally devoted
to giving, is really all about receiving. Receiving presents? Well,
okay... sure, there are presents.. but those presents kind of lost
their significance back when you realised that the best presents from
now on were going to come from Uncle Amazon, and can be received all
year round.
I’m talking more about the other
things. Like receiving two bouts of flu perfectly timed to interfere
first with your holiday and then with your return to work. Receiving
the slap in the face that you skilfully dodged by ignoring you
birthday, when you realise that 5 years have passed since 5 years
ago.
But above all receiving wisdom, and
reinforcing those Received Wisdoms that you carry around throughout
the year.
Unlike the type of knowledge which is built over
time, with careful careful consideration and continual readjustment, Received
Wisdom comes in easy-to-digest, pre-thought-out packaging. It
promises the bearer an instant air of well-informed assurance which
is inherently more appealing than the vague uncertainties that make
more accurate facts.
Like last Christmas for instance.
We’re all sat around the dinner table
and cousin Alice, who turned 9 in October, looks suspiciously at her
alcohol-free mulled wine.
