Bah Humbug
As the "holiday season" gets into full swing, I feel the need to vent about how much I hate this season. Really, it is the day after Turkey to December 25th. The week between X-mas and New Year's is probably one of my favorite weeks of the year. All the pressure to get the perfect gift has been lifted and I can enjoy the company of friends and family without having to worry about whether the wrapping paper I chose is appropriate.
When I was a teenager and my parents had recently divorced, there was a lot of responsibility placed on my 16-year-old-shoulders to transport myself and 2 sisters to all the right places at all the right times. Mom's house for breakfast, Grandma's house for lunch, Dad's house for early dinner, Auntie's house for late dinner and finally (phew!) to another Grandperson's house for dessert. It should be noted that these locations were all over the county. There was at least a 30 minute car ride between all of them. "Everyone at (insert name here)'s house wants to see you", my Mom would say. Never mind that we've been up since the crack of dawn to open presents. Never mind we have full bellies of food and need a nap at some point.
Why does this all need to happen on the same day? Why is there not some expectation that people cannot be in 4 places at once? Why does my mother have this vision of Norman Rockwell's paintings in her head as what this day is "supposed to be"?
I did this running around for a few years and then decided that I didn't want to do it anymore. I did not feel that I was being unreasonable. My mother, however, sure did and made it known to me that I was "disappointing" her. Great. The guilt trip. Love that.
I have decided that December 25th does not mean anything to me. I don't believe in God. Therefore, I don't believe that Jesus is the son of God. So, why should I celebrate his birthday on a day that isn't even his birthday?!?!? If my family could agree to get together on some other arbitrary day, it would mean just as much. Why not April 12th? How about August 30th? It just seems that as the years go by, there is less and less reason to celebrate something that irritates me so much.
If only we could be like the Grinch and the Who's down in Whoville, I might have some reason to get into the Holiday Spirit.
When I was a teenager and my parents had recently divorced, there was a lot of responsibility placed on my 16-year-old-shoulders to transport myself and 2 sisters to all the right places at all the right times. Mom's house for breakfast, Grandma's house for lunch, Dad's house for early dinner, Auntie's house for late dinner and finally (phew!) to another Grandperson's house for dessert. It should be noted that these locations were all over the county. There was at least a 30 minute car ride between all of them. "Everyone at (insert name here)'s house wants to see you", my Mom would say. Never mind that we've been up since the crack of dawn to open presents. Never mind we have full bellies of food and need a nap at some point.
Why does this all need to happen on the same day? Why is there not some expectation that people cannot be in 4 places at once? Why does my mother have this vision of Norman Rockwell's paintings in her head as what this day is "supposed to be"?
I did this running around for a few years and then decided that I didn't want to do it anymore. I did not feel that I was being unreasonable. My mother, however, sure did and made it known to me that I was "disappointing" her. Great. The guilt trip. Love that.
I have decided that December 25th does not mean anything to me. I don't believe in God. Therefore, I don't believe that Jesus is the son of God. So, why should I celebrate his birthday on a day that isn't even his birthday?!?!? If my family could agree to get together on some other arbitrary day, it would mean just as much. Why not April 12th? How about August 30th? It just seems that as the years go by, there is less and less reason to celebrate something that irritates me so much.
If only we could be like the Grinch and the Who's down in Whoville, I might have some reason to get into the Holiday Spirit.
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