I am a romantic. I want to cry when I throw out my Christmas

Host: The café was quiet, the air filled with the warmth of the late afternoon light. Outside, the world was fading into the soft shadows of evening, and the gentle sound of rain against the windows created a cozy atmosphere inside. Jack and Jeeny sat at their usual table, sipping their drinks in comfortable silence. After a few moments, Jeeny broke the stillness, her voice calm but filled with a quiet curiosity.

Jeeny: “I came across something by Sondra Locke today. She said, ‘I am a romantic. I want to cry when I throw out my Christmas tree, and I have a lot of feelings about magic and fantasy.’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: He raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “A romantic, huh? Crying over a Christmas tree... that’s a pretty sentimental way of looking at things. But I get it. There’s a certain beauty in feeling that deeply about things, even if they’re just part of tradition. But isn’t it a little much? Why do we need to tie so many emotions to things like magic and fantasy?”

Host: The rain outside had turned into a soft drizzle, the rhythm of it steady against the window. Jeeny’s voice, though, was warm and unwavering as she responded, her gaze steady on Jack.

Jeeny: “I think that’s exactly what makes Sondra Locke’s words powerful. There’s something beautiful about being a romantic, about being willing to embrace the magic and wonder of life. We often get caught up in the practicalities, the daily grind, but there’s value in embracing the feelings, the emotional connection to things that seem small or temporary. For Locke, the Christmas tree, the fantasy—those things matter, even if they don’t seem like they should.”

Jack: “But does it really matter to cry over something like that? I mean, yeah, traditions are important, but we’re constantly moving on, right? Shouldn’t we just let go of things instead of holding on to all these emotions tied to them?”

Jeeny: “Letting go is part of it, too. But I think it’s not about holding on to the object—it’s about what it represents. The Christmas tree isn’t just about the tree; it’s about memories, about what the season means. The feelings of nostalgia, connection, and even loss—it’s all part of being human. Embracing magic and fantasy allows us to access those deeper parts of ourselves, to feel something beyond the everyday.”

Host: The café had grown even quieter, the world outside almost faded completely. The soft murmur of conversations from other tables felt distant, as if Jack and Jeeny’s conversation had taken on a weight of its own. Jack’s usual skepticism was being challenged, replaced by a deeper contemplation of the emotions that Jeeny was describing.

Jack: “I get it now. It’s not just about being nostalgic for the sake of it. It’s about feeling something—about acknowledging the small moments, the traditions that help connect us to the bigger picture. Maybe crying over the Christmas tree is about more than just the tree. It’s about holding on to something that represents love, memories, and the magic of the season.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about embracing the feeling, not just the object. Magic isn’t something we have to see to believe—it’s the emotional and spiritual connection that those things evoke. It’s about being open to what’s beyond the ordinary, to the parts of life that don’t always make sense but still matter.”

Host: The café felt almost like a quiet sanctuary now, the soft sound of the rain and the dim light outside creating a cocoon of comfort around them. Jack and Jeeny sat in a moment of quiet understanding, realizing that being a romantic wasn’t about holding onto superficial things—it was about finding depth in the small, emotional moments that made life feel meaningful. The magic and fantasy were not about escape; they were about embracing the deeper connections that made us human.

Jack: “Maybe it’s okay to be sentimental. Maybe it’s okay to let the small things move us—whether it’s the tree, the season, or the magic we believe in. It’s about feeling deeply, not just moving on all the time.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s those feelings, those connections, that make life more than just a series of tasks or events. They make life beautiful.”

Host: As the conversation came to a quiet close, the café seemed to absorb the warmth of their words, the world outside continuing its steady rhythm while Jack and Jeeny shared in the understanding that sometimes, it’s the smallest things—the traditions, the feelings, the magic—that hold the most meaning. And in that, there was something truly worth embracing.