It's the Friday after Thanksgiving, and I am avoiding stores like the plague. I need to go to the grocery store, and make two other quick stops -- including a quick run into Staples to make some copies of my holiday newsletter. Mercifully, the cards are mostly DONE, and I plan to get those out by the middle of next week. Just some labels to run, and one more detail to iron out.
I do admit: there were a couple of BF deals that made me look more than once. It had me thinking just ever-so-slightly about shopping on Black Friday. But honestly, the deals weren't quite all that and a bag of chips. Had the offer said "FREE TO (NETTIEMAC)" then I might have considered it. Plus, I didn't really have the available cash on hand for it anyway. I am determined NOT to go into debt this Christmas -- and especially for something for myself. After Christmas sales, well..... it depends on the deal.
Christmas itself, I enjoy. What I dread most of all for the next few weeks is the Canned Holiday Spirit (TM) -- you know, that phony incessant cheeriness piped into all retail facilities. The drone of the Christmas music designed to make us open our wallets -- it merely inspires me to invest in some of those noise-cancelling headphones. The (ahem) dulcet tones of children screaming, "I want! I want! I want! Mamamamamamamama!" which just makes me want to run out screaming myself.
I hate manufactured holidays. Not saying that Christmas is manufactured -- don't get me wrong. I just hate this phony "Christmas season" -- it's all backward. They've turned the peaceful preparation of Advent into the frenzy of SpendNowHowCanYouPassThisUp, WhatAreYouSomeKindOfCommieHippieFreak, Don'tYouLoveYourLovedOnesEnoughTo... Oh, it just goes on and on. Not that I don't love my loved ones, and not that I don't want to get them something. But I am tired of the constant barrage that feeds the beast. I hate that parents feel pressured that if their children don't get the latest gadget or toy for Christmas, then they are "bad parents." Or that if I spend less than $1000 per person on my loved ones, then I'm a bad consumer.
So call me a Grinch or a Scrooge. I don't think it's my heart that's three sizes too small.......
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1 comment:
Amen and preach on Brother! (read: this member of the choir fully agrees!!)
It isn't about Jesus. It hasn't been in so long. Yet, you have these folks (alas, my MIL is one of 'em) who feel 'persecuted', that there's a "war on Christmas" going on. If you don't say "CHRISTMAS", max out your Discover card, and put gaudy lights, tacky backlit Santas and stupid animated/lit-up reindeer all over your property ... that somehow you're not Christian.
Canned Holiday Spirit® ... I love it. It makes me want lots and lots of spirit, but the other kind. And I don't drink.
No, it's about MONEY. Not Our Lord And Savior. Hasn't been for a long, long time. Good gawd, even THE SALVATION FREAKIN' ARMY set up their kettles early in November.
Today we're going to spend some time with my brother and his family down at Dad's cabin outside of Andalusia. Then we'll be taking in a drive-in flick outside of Dothan. Lots of driving, but it's all about family.
And, more than Jesus - I think the holidays are supposed to be about FAMILY. After all, family is what God intended for Man.
Your heart's just fine. At least you have one.
-TG
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