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Christmas, Christmas, go away, come again some other day
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Christmas Tree
At Examiner.com, "we write what we know." I hope you enjoy this not-quite-news commentary and will share it with others.
I recently made a quick trip to my neighborhood Kohl's. My quest? Picture frames. I needed picture frames. At 55% off I'd be crazy not to check it out. While I was looking around for them I saw an unexpected site: Christmas trees. White flocked and full of little lights. As happy as that can make me, one of my first thoughts was: "Already?!"
It's not even Halloween, but the Christmas lights are up. I didn't even stop to look at what else was set up and already on sale. But I kept thinking as I headed for the "Home" department: "That stuff's not even in the process of being set up. It's already set up! I wonder when they started bringing out all of this Christmas stuff? I guess they want to have it ready so as soon as Halloween is over they can go right into the Christmas season. Bypass Thanksgiving and go right into selling."
There's not a lot of money to be made off Thanksgiving. Not that much on Halloween either. Who wants to decorate their house in orange and black? or in turkeys and pilgrams? But Christmas is what retailer dreams are made of. It's the time to buy gifts, large and small, for everyone you know.
Parents buy gifts for their children. Every child. Multiple gifts. Gifts than can be used year 'round. Gifts they have been asking for, wanting, demanding. Gifts that you'll be sorry for. Gifts that if you don't give you'll regret. The "must have" gifts of the year. The gifts that fade. Gifts to make you feel better because you're a good parent. Gifts that show you want your kid not to be left out. Gifts that keep on giving because you're the cool parents who know what your kids want and how to get it.
Gifts for brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, parents, grandparents, neighbors, co-workers, people you like, people you don't like, and people you tolerate. People you want to like you. People you want to love you. People who can help you get where you want to be. People who may do something you fear unless you appease them or show how kind and wonderful you are by not forgetting to give them a gift - especially if you forgot to give them one last year.
It's the time when we enjoy Christmas songs, although we may have to argue over which ones are allowed to be sung in school because they mention Jesus in some way or even the word Christmas. Christ - mas. More Christ ... but not in public places!
So it's the time when fights occur, lawyers grin, the ACLU chomps, and the churches pass out pins and stickers and do all they can to remind us that Jesus is the Reason for the Season while they deck their halls with fir trees, wreaths, and other pagan symbols which have nothing to do with the birth of Christ - "Halleluiah!"
Don't get me wrong, I can enjoy and appreciate all of it, but it sure can be exhausting. It sure can be a source of stress. As much as I like walking out into the world and hearing "Joy to the World", a heavy sadness weighs over me at the thought of crowded stores, heightened commericalism for a not-so-holy holiday, arguments over store employees being told to greet everyone with a generic "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas", or calling it a "Holiday tree" instead of a "Christmas tree", so the owners don't risk a lawsuit because they accidentally offended someone from the over-sensitive minority.
I feel sorry for those who must go against their conscience or risk losing their minimum wage job which keeps them afloat just long enough to spend what little extra they earn on the same vicious Christmas cycle of giving more than they can afford because they're overtaxed and underpaid. Thank you Ebenez ... I mean, Federal Government!
I guess I just don't look forward to Christmas like I did when I was a kid. It's just not the same. It's more depressing now, and I certainly wouldn't mind if it started a little later in the year. Like late December.
At this point, I am just not in the mood to start thinking about appeasing people who may or may not feel the same need to appease me with gifts that may or may not be as nice as the ones which I may or may not be giving them which neither of us will be aware of until one of us has made it a point to "gift" the other and cause a sense of Christmas obligation to fill the other one's soul.
*Sigh*
Can we simply do this later? Or not at all? Christmas, I love you, but I don't want to deal with you. I can't deal with you. At least not right now. Will you please come back later? or will the Christmas I remember, full of joy and peace, thoughtfulness and caring, love and hope, please come back ... period?
I know it's not your fault. Greed, political correctness, and religious sensitivity have corrupted what was once pure and adored. But I promise to do my part to make you feel welcomed and uncompromised. Please forgive me, and my 300 million neighbors. I don't know how many will try to mend their ways, or go out of their way this season to break old habits, or help those who are truly in need; nevertheless, I do miss you, and I still hope to see you on December 25th. If not this year, perhaps the next.
Hugs and kisses and Merry Christmas, Christmas.
from an old friend.
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