This Christmas, ‘Merry Christmas’ Came Back

This Christmas, ‘Merry Christmas’ Came Back

This Christmas felt different. Not louder. Not flashier. Just more normal. For the first time in a few years, it felt okay to say “Merry Christmas” again. Not whispered. Not followed by an apology. Just said plainly, often, to strangers. I heard it everywhere. At Target. At Spencer’s. At the supermarket. Buying donuts on Christmas morning. On my daily walk. From clerks, cashiers, and people passing by. Smiles, eye contact, and a simple “Merry Ch…