Rushing Christmas...

[auld argonian]

Is it just me or does it seem like everybody's trying to get Christmas over with before December 25th actually gets here?

They've been airing all of the holiday specials and movies in NOVEMBER..."A Charlie Brown Christmas" was on last week...much to the dismay of my kids who missed, it foolishly believing that it just MIGHT be on sometime around CHRISTMAS since that's what it's about. "White Christmas" with Danny Kaye and Der Bingle (and that adorable woman who Kaye ends up with at the end of the movie...the one that dances and has those great legs...Vera Ellen...schwing!) was on this past Saturday.

The stores have already declared their success or failure in the all-important Christmas sales department...they declared this in NOVEMBER...WalMart is already going into mourning because of a bad season and its DECEMBER 1ST.

Is there going to be anything left by the 25th or should we just plan to take it easy then and rest up from all of the Christmas stuff that we did in early December. How anti-climactic is this? Not to mention that they'll be putting the Christmas decorations in the stores around Labor Day next year...they (I am not exagerating) had it up before Halloween this year.

So skip the Christmas cards and just text message Seasons Greetings to your friends and family...

Best

AA

.....Bah...Humbug!

[MacTavishOfJapan]

Sadly Christmas is becoming so commercialised and less fun for me. I try to ignore all the bull and concentrate on spending time with my family. Oh and Doctor Who is on on Christmas day, my biggest "special event".

[Colin]

I try and avoid it until the first week of December at least. I did put up the out door lights last weekend, but only because it was snowing and that seemed more appropriate that the rain we will get this weekend. I find Christmas has been become more about $$$$$, and trying to fit as many things in as possible, and less about quality time with friends and family. Luckily the excitment in my kid's eyes keep the magic around for me right now.

[cessna152towser]

Christmas events seem to happen earlier every year. Ann and I have already received five Christmas cards. We haven't written any yet but we will be too late to send our local ones by the Boy Scouts fundraising Christmas card delivery as tomorrow morning is the last day they will accept them. I'm planning to put my Christmas lights up this weekend because it seems everyone round about has theirs up already. I've had my Christmas CD playing in the car for a couple of weeks now. I think that once the cold long dark nights start people need cheered up and Christmas season nowadays seems to kick off here in mid November immediately after Remembrance Day.

Two years ago was the first Christmas after my dad died and we went away to a hotel over Christmas. The hotel kitchen caught fire after Christmas Dinner and we had to evacuate through the smoke and come home. So last year was the first year of just being our two selves.

This year we will meet Ann's cousin and aunt for a meal at a hotel in Peebles on the 23rd and then Christmas Day it will just be Ann and I and I will prepare a special Christmas dinner for her. My thoughts go out at Christmas to those who are on their own after bereavement or relationship break-up.

[katmills2005]

Christmas is very commercialized. Part of the reason I still make most of the presents I gift to friends and family. My list grows each year and I start my Holiday Baking in October, freezing most of the cookies and breads to keep them fresh until they ship the first week in December. Once I get those packages mailed I'll start baking for those who live close enough for me to hand deliver their baskets.

I have to admit to having a bit of trouble getting into the spirit of things this year. This is my second Christmas without my husband, and his last Christmas with us was extremely hard since he was in the hospital at the time. For my kids, I put on the cheery face and trudge on through the season. I avoid Walmart and the malls as much as possible, and only venture out to shop during off hours when the stores are less busy.

Things are too forced anymore. It feels more like the holiday is thrust in front of you instead of being a more festive free spirited time that it once was. I rely more on the traditions I grew up with, rather than the plastic blow up commercial holiday it has become.

[MacTavishOfJapan]

I can understand how you feel Kat, Christmas was one of my Dad's favourite times of the year. All my memories of Christmas revolve around spending time with my family and Christmas without him seems a little perverse. I hope you can find more Christmas joy again in the future.

Andy

[bubba]

After dealing with the holiday shopping traffic and people in the stores already I'm coming around to Ebenezer Scrooges way of thinking. It seems that the holiday has become all about money and gimme.

[Colin]

After dealing with the holiday shopping traffic and people in the stores already I'm coming around to Ebenezer Scrooges way of thinking. It seems that the holiday has become all about money and gimme.

Only if we all let it get to us though. I did years of not enjoying the holidays. Now I will be damned if the stores will ruin for me by playing Jingle Bells on November 1st. After all, who's in charge us or them......

[wsk]

Only if we all let it get to us though. ... After all, who's in charge us or them......

Yeah, yeah! What he said! Sigh. It would appear that it's them what's in charge. I refuse to bow down before the alter of commercialism. I don't want no stuff.

I want to spend my time with family and friends. I want to make luminarias and set them on the fence posts along the road and along the drive and atop of the adobe walls. I want to go birding at the Bosque del Apache on the day before Christmas. I want to have lingering conversation at the dinner table properly lubricated with a good wine. That will be a good and Merry Christmas.

And to all a good night.

[sorcererdale]

Yes, and it is so hard to buy any holiday stuff a few days or even a week before the event because then the store is sold out already. Even if one wants certain clothing or sandals for example, be sure to get them in the off season or the stores won't have them.

Just last night, the news for Michigan announced that the legislature decided to change the name again, and not call our state Christmas tree, the Holiday Tree, so signs are being re made to reflect that it is a Christmas Tree.

I don't know what needs to be done to change all this, but I wish something could be done.

DALE.