I have discovered the only way I can manage to have any
Christmas spirit to enjoy is to be very protective of it. This year I did something different; I
officially started looking, listening and watching Christmas things on December
13th. It’s taken some effort,
but I think I’ve pulled it off quite nicely, thank you very much!
Since October I have been avoiding displays of Christmas
decorations. This certainly hasn’t been
achieved without some real effort…I’ve done it by putting on my shopping
blinders and not looking too far to my right or left. I have dodged displays of the M & M’s
characters wearing Christmas hats…Budweiser Clydesdales dancing to Christmas
music…and the Grinch leering at me from cardboard cut outs stationed with
various and sundry products.
Recording anything you care to watch and fast forwarding
through the commercials is a great way to avoid early Christmas burn out as well. I don’t know when anything is on…and I can
never catch part two of anything…but I have missed all the expensive cars with
bows around them…the “as seen on TV” ads for stretchy bras and two hundred foot
long garden hoses that you can carry in a match box. I have also tuned out of the home shopping
networks and the Christmas shows that started on November first. The first Christmas thing I watched was the
Celtic Women show on PBS last week. I
was humming Christmas music for a couple of days after that.
I hate to break this news to all the big broadcast companies
but…the surprise is over. Knowing what
is coming I’ve turned off my radio. The
war to see who can get 24 hour Christmas music started first has probably been
fought in every market…and I don’t care.
When I worked in radio and was forced to listen to Christmas music for
eight solid weeks I was ready to bludgeon anyone who wished me “Merry Christmas”
by the time it actually rolled around.
Too much of a good thing is….well, too much.
We still get the Sunday paper at our house, so for two
months the first thing I’ve done is pull all the “Christmas Giving” sale papers
out and toss them in the trash. Two
weeks before Christmas is time enough to look at that stuff, too.
In my sincere efforts to not become a “Christmas Curmudgeon”
I have likely missed some good sales…probably missed some Christmas programs
that were not too bad…and definitely missed the “After Christmas Sales” that
started in mid-December. But you know
what? I have a healthy Christmas spirit
because I haven’t used it all up trying to fend off advertising and premature
celebration of an event that should be cherished. I’ve said “Merry Christmas” and meant it…and
I am going to be this protective of my Christmas spirit every year from here on
out because it works for me.
Now that I’ve confessed to having become a bit reclusive
about my holidays I do have to admit I may have overlooked something. On the way into work this morning I heard
Silent Night done to a calypso beat.
When did that happen?
Merry
Christmas to all…and to all a good night.
Life is Good
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