Ghost of Christmas

drei88
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Ghost of Christmas
Ghost of Christmas

I came upon this scene the other day. One of those inflatable Christmas decorations that are held upright by a small air pump. It seemed a very fitting metaphor for the Christmas holiday as I've come to experience it in recent years: a very thin veneer of happiness being propped up as if on life support by memories of happier times. It's not to say I'm currently unhappy. Far from it. I literally count my blessings each night before drifting off to sleep. It's just that the holidays always set into motion a memory reel of sorts. Images of Christmases past come flickering into view that sometimes taint the present. They weren't necessarily any happier, but the passage of time creates a sense of nostalgic fondness. It's not simply a reflection of past holidays, but more to do with the youth in which I experienced them. They were times full of energy and hope, and populated by friends and family that have since died. Each successive loss seems to pop another pinhole into that already threadbare veneer. It happens so gradually you don't even realize what's going on. But then suddenly your Christmas cheer feels as deflated as this poor yuletide penguin, sprawled facedown on someone's lawn. I walked down the penquin's street later that evening. The little guy was upright again, swaying gently in the breeze, the air pump humming softly in the background. I paused to watch him for a moment, then walked off into the night with the ghost of Christmas by my side.

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Taken on: December 24, 2023
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Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro, f/2.2, 1/115 sec, 2.2mm, ISO 40 (more info) (hide info)
Camera: Apple iPhone 14 Pro
Aperture: f/2.2
Exposure Time: 0.009 sec (1/115)
Focal Length: 2.2mm
ISO: 40
Exposure Bias: +0.665 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program: Program AE
Exposure Mode: Auto
Metering Mode: Multi-segment
White Balance: Auto
Color Space: Uncalibrated
Software: Adobe Photoshop 23.2 (Macintosh)
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