Holidays are…
… well both a great time and the closest thing I know to hell at the same time.
The days themselves are great, and being a parent, I am looking forward to this Christmas day. Thanksgiving will be nice - one in Dyersburg with Amanda’s family and one here in St. louis with much of my extended family the day there after. It’s everything in between that drives me to bah-humbug mode.
Who the hell needs to go shopping at 4-5am the day after thanksgiving? I know there are people out there that like that rush, and i don’t blame them; I blame the retail industry. I blame the retail industry for much, if not all of my disdain for the holidays. Here’s my point: If stores didn’t open at 4 am (and I’ve heard that several places are opening at 12:01 the day after Thanksgiving) and if they weren’t open Christmas eve, people would get their shopping done at other times. Why do theyhave to take time away from our families? Every Year, Amanda works longer hours, Christmas eve, the day after thanksgiving, etc etc. How long can we keep this up as a society before people say “enough?” Will it just get worse?
I want to spend time with my family during the holidays. I want to be able to relax. I want to be able to take a nice nap after stuffing myself with turkey instead of jumping in a car and driving 4 hours to get back home so we can go back to work. That’s no holiday. The holidays should be rushed.
I learned a lot living in Austria about the quality of life and how we, as americans, do not value it like we should. There is absolutely NO need for us to go to the lengths that we do every year in an attempt to please people. We spend so much money on gifts; much of which doens’t really mean a lot to the people we give them to. Why can’t we revert to 50 years ago when stores were closed on sundays and the holidays meant more than shopping? Why is it so material?
I’m looking forward to spending Christmas with my family. I hope that I can learn to look past the bad and enjoy the good, no matter how short it may be…
November 22nd, 2006 10:38
it’s all about what you want to make out of it. at least that is my conclusion. this year is going to be quite possibly the strangest thanksgiving i’ve had in awhile, but it doesn’t matter. just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s bad. in y’all’s position i can see how the materialism of society has a bigger impact.
November 22nd, 2006 11:35
on that note…everyone go to the mall and buy something so people like me can keep their jobs! : ) We don’t care what time you go, just go buy something! now! and don’t forget to thank the person who gave up their family time so you could! you think you hate being at the mall during xmas? Imagine being there for 54+ hours, for six straight weeks, and see if you could still smile at every ass that complains about standing in line. : )
November 28th, 2006 13:10
*shops online*