Christmas sorta sucks. The glittery, magical loving Christmas I once knew is no more. I remember visiting grandparents or having grandparents visit for a week. Christmas was full of family and baking. Christmas was about rifling through the Sears catalog and picking out what I wanted Santa to bring (I know... my rant on commercialism falls short by saying that...). Those were pleasant times. Sharing family and having lots of people around. I will admit, they were pleasant because they always brought cool presents for ME.

This modern version of Christmas is very hard to swallow. I don't fell the same good will as I once did. I can't stand being pressured into purchases. I can't stand those bell ringers (where are you during Jan thru Oct???) I can't stand hearing about the earnings of various retail stores. My Christmas is not that material. Christmas has become a cold far out nightmare that comes once a year. I hate the mall. People only go to the mall because they HAVE to. Mall parking is a nightmare. Traffic jams do not put anyone in a good mood. I wish I had a camera for my last mall visit. The Santa line was something to behold. I did not see cheer on a single face, except the kids. EVERY parent had a look of annoyance. The santa was just being santa and besides I can't hear or see what he may be mumbling under that fluffy fake facial facade. What's worse... (than the mall)... WAL-MART!!! Give me a break! That place has become the mecca for white trash everywhere. The picture hut is hilarious. People elbowing each other to get in line so little Johnny can ball his eyes out just as the camera is about to click. The 24 hour places have gone way downhill and become soooooo dirty. Don't get me started with the checkout lines. They are long... always. There is some sort of length of line quota because I went to Wal-Mart late at night and had to wait (of course only 1 checkout open). Morons.

Christmas sucks. But January gets better. The crowds, the over marketed products, the appearance of products that will be sold in the following summers garage sale (The Pizza cooker???) will all go away as soon as the NCAA Div I football champion has been crowned. Then life gets back to normal. Go to work. Come home. Eat. Go to work. Have a nice weekend. Go to work. ...you get the point. I remember Christmas being good once (about 9 years of it). I don't remember when I found out Santa's secret, but I am sure I denied for a few years after. I am now (at my old age) recognizing more why we have Christmas. I am trying to enjoy Christmas with my heart instead of my wallet. For more on Christmas, visit your local clergy.

Thank you and good day....