Christmas, it's a CROCK!

I guess Christmas Eve is probably a little too late to get all "ba'humbug" on my readers, but after trying to do my part with stimulating the economy and buying a bunch of stuff (more this year than normal), I am a bit grossed out with holiday consumerism right now. A few things got me thinking, like Bill Murray's moment of clarity at the end of the movie, Scrooged (my favorite Christmas movie that I watch every year.)

I have noticed that since before Thanksgiving, no one has time to see each other because they are "out doing stuff for the holidays..." I just got an email from my Aunt Patti saying she missed me because she hasn't seen me in a while. Everyone always says they want to hang out, but when I call to see them, they are busy shopping. I mean everyone.

I have been thinking how much time we spend getting ready for the holidays, and I believe it is an unjustfied amount. Stupid holidays got everyone running around for an entire month. Whoever is in charge of the holidays is laughing until they wet their pants. Sitting in traffic, standing in lines, spending more than we earn, buy buy buy, go go go, do do do...what about ho ho ho?

Isn't Christmas about friends and family? Isn't that why we send out Christmas cards and holiday cards? I met up with my old friend from high school last weekend, Justin Bullock, and I had the best time hanging out AND not thinking about Christmas because I WAS doing the Christmas thing.

Christmas Eve and Day are here, and what are we doing? Rushing to the next house, seeing the next set of family, barely have time for friends (and avoiding the ones we didn't buy any gifts for), rush rush rush, go go go, ho ho ho?
NO NO NO.

These are the end of the holidays, make time to sit down a little longer, make some coffee, make an effort to hang out with your friends and family for a few hours in the next few days.