Holidays: Let the Lunacy Begin

I was getting a bit tired of everyone complaining that Christmas wass coming too fast for their liking. In a slow economy where people have very little expendable cash and stores are looking at layoffs, and closings at the same time people are looking to them for seasonal work you should stop looking the proverbial "GIFT HORSE" in the mouth. You get to start your shopping early, stretching out the spending over multiple huge sales, you keep the stores in business and that provides seasonal jobs for those who desperately need them, some who may be lucky enough to keep them into the new year.

I like the holidays all lumped together. It makes the cooling darkening time of the year more bearable. I can stand the overlap as long as people are in a good mood instead of being manic and rude shopping like they are the only ones in the world. But then lots of people act like that everyday so why would the holidays change it? It used to be everyone was in a good and giving mood this time of year, instead now they all just feel pressure they put on themselves and they don't really enjoy or understand the season. Being in a good mood on that one day off when you pass out the gifts you overspent on and pushed old ladies out of the way to get pretending the entire two months of rude you inflicted on others leading up to it doesn't absolve you. One day of post-aggressive generosity doesn't make up for sixty of total jerk.

So get on with it! Put on your happy holiday face and get moving! Every holiday still comes on its designated day of the same month every single year. What should come earlier and stay longer is the spirit of celebrating our connections to each other and appreciating each other. It's not all about shopping. It's not about how much you spend and what brand name is on the label. The best gifts are the ones that are well thought out. Gifts are special because they make sense to who you give them to because they could only come from you. If you just plunk your money down because you think that's what it's all about you've missed the point. By the way if your kids are asking for things with labels and price tags and you're way out to buy them you're helping them miss the point.

At any rate the big bird belly buster is over so bring on the Christmas!

Be safe.