Dec 08 2008
Just call me Ms. Grinch
Ah yes, it’s that time of year again. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and whatever other type of holiday celebration you believe in. I have no problem with the holidays, I like them. The things I truly cannot stand is the hypocritical people coming out in droves, the constant songs, the shoppers, the drivers, and well, quite a few other things that drive me batty this time of year.
So here is my Grinch list, and I absolutely refuse to call it the top ten.
1. House decorations~ It was bad enough when all the neighbors had lights bright enough to power a small town and they left them on all night long. Now you have lights that play loud Christmas music. If I heard Jingle Bells one more time last night, I was going to stomp over to my neighbors and put that “jingle bell” where the sun doesn’t shine.
2. Holiday music overplay~Yes, it’s the time of year to play Christmas music, but do you really have to play the same ten songs over and over? I know there are more tunes out there, different variations, lets get them on air too, my ears beg you.
3. Black Friday~Is one day of the year I absolutely refuse to step into a store. The crowds of people who push, shove, fight, and this year murder, simply for five extra dollars off on that stereo your husband didn’t need in the first place.
4. Gift Exchange~I cannot stand these. I buy for my close family and a few select friends that I have constant contact with. But for someone who doesn’t talk to you all year long, and then sends you a gift card reeks of someone looking for a gift in return.
5. Drivers~Not too much to be said other than this. When it’s a white out, rush hour traffic time, slow the hell down! Passing me in the fast lane is not getting you to grandma’s faster, its only tossing you in the ditch of the road as you skid out of control.
6. Shoppers~Worth mentioning again. Just because it’s the holiday does not place everything in my store on automatic sale. Really, it doesn’t. (You wouldn’t believe just how many shoppers ask this question, and get upset when I tell them no, those $12.95 pants are NOT on sale).
7. Charities~I’m sorry, call me the Grinch, but if I didn’t donate all year long, and I haven’t called to donate yet, stop calling me! The Salvation Army is one of the worst offenders. They have their bell ringers set up outside stores, ringing those bells for weeks before Christmas, and yet I can name you ten families right now who have been told there isn’t enough money to help them this year. It’s not the first time I’ve heard it either.
8. Family time~I love my family, I used to love the gatherings at the holidays. Where everyone came to grandmas house, stayed all day and just enjoyed it. Now it seems to trouble anyone at all to gather together, and when they do, they add in people who have no contact at all, except for at Christmas. If you can’t have peace, love, and joy all year long with me, don’t expect it in winter.
9. Ringing in the Debt~I have never been one of those people who over buy. I do not get credit cards just so I can buy more gifts for more people. I refuse to place myself in debt so I can win the buying war of the holidays. Don’t get me wrong, I do buy gifts. I just actually take the time to think about those gifts. I buy what I can afford, after my normal bills are paid. This year, I wasn’t able to save up extra, so gift giving will be extra tight. Guess what though, I don’t stress on it either. I don’t feel I will be loved any less because I couldn’t afford to buy that Wii for my kids. They have a game system already, I can buy games for that. Oh and trust me, I look for the deals.
10. Church Time~ I am not a churchgoer by any means. I believe as my guy does, I live in sin daily. I smoke, I curse, and other adult things I won’t mention. To sit in what is considered the Lord’s Home one day a year and celebrate, would serve no purpose other than to make me a hypocrite. Then again, I know many Sunday churchgoers who do that every week. I will keep my prayers and thoughts to myself, in my own home, knowing I do it for myself, and not to show off the fact I go to church every week.
So there you have it. My Grinch list. Enjoy it, hate it, but either way you will be talking about it. Because you know you have your own Grinch list too!
