Let me be the first

Merry Christmas everyone/have you been shopping lately? No other time of the year stirs up so many mixed emotions and the retail race has triggered the mental machinations already for me.

On the one hand, who can be against good cheer and charity projects and mitten trees and little children filled with joy....wait, let's think about that last phrase. What could possibly fill a child with joy at Christmas when he/she already has everything? Our abundance is embarrassing. Every child I know has so many examples of Chinese imports they can barely find the space to play with them. And I admit, as Nana, I contribute to that pile in Delmar, NY. What excites children about Christmas today?

And of course that's the secular Christmas we're talking about. The one that almost forces Jewish parents to have a green decorated tree in the house. What about the Christian holy day that more and more of our citizens in this country don't share. Are they expected to "get in the Christmas spirit" too? Do their children expect their piece of the goodies being hawked everywhere one goes?

There is so much negative for me in this holiday. I thought my feelings would change when I had grandkids but I still count it as my least favorite holiday. Don't think I'm a complete sourpuss. I love the Christmas story, even though I doubt it all happened that way, but who doesn't rejoice in the birth of an innocent babe? Who isn't cheered by the fact that the days are beginning again to get longer rather than shorter? It's a great time to celebrate and enjoy your love ones. It's what we endure from now to then that I find depressing.

Once lovely songs piped into every store and ground down into meaninglessness; trying to think of original gifts that people will actually not exchange or regift; trying to convince your family that you really do not need another single thing to put into a house (that in fact you are trying to get rid of half of the stuff already there) that is full of the things you love.

And the pressure on young families who have multiple sets of parents and are expected to travel all over with little ones. I think there ought to be a rule at Christmas that families with children must stay home and any relatives who feel they must share the holiday can do the traveling. If they're are too old or infirm they're probably not all that interested in another hectic holiday.

And don't forget the decoration expectation; in our neighborhood if you don't have little white lights all over the shrubs you are out of it. And the lights are pretty, don't get me wrong. But do I have to every year? I don't think so. Watch, by Thanksgiving I will give in.

Thanksgiving! That's my idea of a perfect holiday. The only preparation necessary is grocery shopping and baking pies. My kids know that that is the special holiday for me...being grateful for all we have, especially each other. Menu is already decided for you and the only negative is the massive clean up.

And I'm actually glad the retailers ignore Thanksgiving...that way it has managed to stay the truly spiritual celebration all Americans can share (except, of course, the real Americans we stole the country from, but don't let me get started on that!)

So let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas!