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 |  This is my blog & my hope, writing daily will help me see my progress and log supporters. |
| We were at the store today buying a few groceries and the song, Jingle Bells was playing over the loudspeaker. I felt sorry for the staff and remarked to Nada that the song would be stuck in their heads every night. It was worth the trip though (despite the crowd) because my favourite breakfast cereal (which can be hard to get at times) was in stock. There were six boxes left, so I bought the lot. I know that isn't very Christmasy of me, but I'm willing to do pretty much anything, including being selfish, to procure my cereal. I'm going to state what I'm sure many of you feel, but are not willing to say...I hate Christmas. And it's not just the carols, the madness and the commercialism that have me feeling this way. There's also this expectation that things will be somehow different over the holidays...and then the disappointment when everything remains the same (other than hangovers, and once it's all done, a lot less money in the bank). For the past few years, I've been slowly opting out. While my parents were alive, I made an effort to attend family gatherings. But since they are both now gone (and the fact that I am living overseas), Christmas this year will be a very quiet affair. Nada and I will go out on NYE to watch the fireworks on the beach in Hua Hin, and that will be the holiday celebrations over for this year. I just asked Nada what she wants for Christmas. Of course, she said she didn't know, so I offered her what every good Thai girl wants for Christmas...cold hard cash (to the tune of one thousand baht). Despite her efforts to hide her glee, her eyes lit up and she agreed that would be a lovely present. Then, I dropped the question that she never saw coming, "So, what are you going to get me for Christmas, Nada?" At first, she looked a little confused, so I helped her out by telling her what I wanted, "One thousand baht." She laughed because she thought that I was joking. But, the truth is we haven't been together long enough for her to understand that Christmas is one subject I never joke about. Perhaps the worst thing about Christmas is that it isn't over in just one day. It begins too early (mid-November) and goes on way too long for my liking. And the best thing about Christmas is at least it's over before the new year begins. Sure, there are other 'benefits' to holding onto an outdated celebration (that isn't even mentioned in the bible as the birthdate of the alleged son of God). It's a great time to lie to children and extort a week or two of good behaviour from the little lovelies by threatening that Santa Claus only gives presents to well-behaved kids. And for the adults (and I use that term loosely) it's a great excuse to drink and eat too much. The drinking, at least at my relative's houses, did not include the partners (usually the wives) because they almost always drew the short straw and were again designated drivers that year. And we all know that statistically, there are more suicides at Christmas than at any other time of year. I used to get depressed around Christmas, but now there are no expectations for me to attend family gatherings, I feel a lot better about the whole thing. The pressure to smile and laugh with my relatives, who would slowly get pissed throughout the afternoon, is no more...and for that, I say, "Hallelujah!" Happy holidays everyone. |
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