The 2 month early happy holiday idiocy
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Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah…. Happy Holidays, or Happy November 6…. whatever you choose. As a now reformed scrooge from Christmas’ pasts, I have decided to embrace the two month early decorating idiocy. In fact, I’m loving it.
Remember when no one ‘discussed’ Christmas until a proper Thanksgiving had come and gone? And those that decorated for Christmas the day after were ‘ambitious’ (my mom had a different name for them)? And boy, what a sin to see the signs of Christmas in the store, barely after Halloween. Yep… that’s where I’m at now. Christmas tree up, stockings hung, and vodka in Santa friendly containers… oh wait, different story.
I don’t know quite what came over me. I was at the Dollar Store, and there were candies out… Christmas candies… I needed those. And the decorative containers to put them in. And then I needed Christmas decorated kitchen towels…and plates, and … you get my point. So here I am, all festive and all… 80 degrees here in Texas, and my children think I’m outta my mind. I ask them, isn’t it cool to see this when you walk in?’… and my son says… ‘Actually no… it’s depressing… two more months until it’s real.’ Who gave this kid permission to speak??? Well, my new philosophy is, ‘suck it up brotha’.
Stay with me here… I want to be seasonal, and joyful, and everything Santa Clausy-y… (minus plump and with Rosacea). My sweet kids are making this hard on me. The oldest is telling me how much money she NEEDS, the middle one thinks I’m going through a phase, and the little bitty baby, sweet Emma, wants to put out the milk and cookies….today.
I blame Walmart. I blame all the retailers who play on the minds of the mommies that watch too many Christmas movies and try to reenact it in our own lives. I blame Rudolph for trying to fly, and showing us that bullies can never win. I blame the little kid that wanted a Daisy Red Rider B-B gun, who was going to, and did (almost) shoot his eye out.
I also blame the houses on the edge of town that have had their Christmas lights on the house for a consecutive 5 years – for making me think, that it is quite possible they just put them up and I am now behind. I especially blame the new ads for law away….. if I can’t pay you now, I can’t pay you later…. but thanks for giving me hope.
I really do want to write a nice and sweet Christmas tale… perhaps one of a miracle that happened at the strike of midnight, or how everyone chose to make peace in the world for just that day…. but for now, I simply want props. I don’t feel I got near enough oooohsss and ahhhhs during Halloween over the cemetery plots in my front yard, nor the delight for my ever so creative vomiting pumpkin. However, as a learning experience, I now know. You have 2 months to admire the tree (or all 4), while still delighting in the aroma of baked goods. If this does not turn me into an elf of some sort (or Christmas goddess), then I refuse to provide you with a heartwarming Christmas story. Hang tight, and let’s see what develops!
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As I grew older I became more and more of a “I’m beginning to hate xmas and it’s only Nov. 1st” type of person. I never really believed the Christ story and Xmas was all about presents as a kid. Now as a full-bred atheist I can’t stand the thought of having to say, “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Xmas”. Growing up as a child Xmas and most holidays were about adults getting drunk and fighting. How many times I remember just walking out of the house and going for a walk. I was glad when the Xmas season was over because it was all about who would get the nicest gifts and who do we have to buy for this year. Call me Scrooge, but it’s time to get rid of this 2000 year old tradition with something that just celebrates peace and happiness. What that is, I don’t know. But it sure shouldn’t have to be spending hundreds or thousands of dollars because you feel guilty and have to watch people drink and fight! I apologize if I’ve dampened your enthusiasm for the holidays, folks! Anyway, that’s my story on reality.
To Anonymous Number 2~~ To be brutally honest, I have yet to remember ONE peaceful, merriful Christmas Holiday from childhood. Maybe my enthusiasm is optimistic wishful thinking of what could be! I hope the same whimsical hope for you.
I love your story, Tamra. I wish I could share your enthusiasm, but I think you have enough for not just both of us, but all of us. What a lovely post.
Thanks Dorothy…. my enthusiasm depends on the day! I enjoy Saturdays best 😉
Seasons come and seasons go. I just go with the flow. If folks are celebrating Christmas, I am good with that. I it is Thanksgiving, I am good with that. The only one that is really important is November the 10th. That I celebrate every year without fail.
UHHHHH BIRTHDAY????
Yeah, USMC Birthday. All Marines get to celebrate the birthday of the Corps. I thought everyone knew that.
Fun story, Tamra! I haven’t started in on Christmas yet, but I’m engaging in my own holiday-calendar bending by deciding to have enough pumpkin-based foods on-hand for whenever the mood may strike. The way I see things, it would be wrongfully oppressive to confine pumpkin pie to just one season…
Oh sweet Greenlight…. pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin soup, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin head… we could go on and on 🙂
Two years ago I stopped celebrating all holidays, and replaced my attention and excitement with a broader, more general, much more flexible personal calendar that I created as I went along.
What a stress relief! No more worrying about getting it right, or on time! Every holiday is now seasonal, allowing 2-3 weeks on either side of the date to celebrate often – or not at all. Particularly liberating was Christmas – now Yule – a seasonal winter feast WITHOUT presents! Big $$$ saver. But fun, because you get to hang out with friends cooking, building snowmen, drinking hot toddys, and leaving your tree up til early February.
Love it.
Cheers Anonymous! I think Hot Toddys are the most festive of all!
I love Christmas and look forward to reading more holiday stories Tamra. Thanks.