Holiday Blues, already?
Nov. 24th, 2007 05:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
walbourn"guess I wasn't the best one to ask
me myself with my face pressed
up against love's glass
to see the shiny toy I've been hoping for
the one I never can afford"
-- Love Will Come To You, Indigo Girls
It's not a good sign that I was sick to death of the consumerist retail Christmas crap the week before Thanksgiving. I blame Starbucks, which had their stores decked out like Santa's java supply store Monday.
I've been avoiding going out most of the weekend except for necessary trips to the grocery store for some last-minute Thanksgiving supplies and today to replenish my supplies of fresh veggies. I went out yesterday for dinner, and went out for lunch today as I was a bit cooked-out after Thanksgiving day. Both times want I wanted to eat was near, but not in, a mall. The experience at these facilities does not put one into the "Christmas Spirit", unless you define the Christmas Spirit as "the nearly uncontrollable desire to beat the living s**t out of your fellow human being for being in the way and unaware of their surroundings". Really given the standard oblivious behavior of Seattleites in public, it's amazing that they can even get from point A to point B when you throw in the daze induced by "Black Friday" shopping.
Of course I'm probably just being bitter. I admit there are a number of reasons the winter holidays bug me.
Intellectually I'm annoyed by the whole process that encourages people to rush out early a full month before Christmas to cram into a few stores in the hopes of "saving money" by getting stuff they probably don't need at a slight discount on credit for money they don't have. The downturn in the housing market and the tightening of credit will no doubt lead to economic tales of doom and gloom come Monday if the retail numbers aren't "record-breaking". Never mind that the economy has only been running at all by that count on Americans' willingness to impoverish their future for "robust economic activity" today.
My attitude is probably not helped by the fact that I'm not Christian, although it was called "Yule" or "The Winter Solstice" long before it was co-opted so I'm generally down with a celebration at mid-winter. But I prefer the celebration to be about 1 or 2 days long, mostly involving spending time with loved ones and a good meal. I've never decorated my house for any holiday in 8 years, but I suppose this really just reflects the fact that I've been living alone that long. I've never had strong feelings about the 'decoration' thing, usually deferring to the wishes of my partner at the time. Still, I think the holidays in general put one in mind about "family life" and my singlessness seems particularly burdensome at these times.
That said I really can't complain that much. I'm employed and well paid, I have friends and lovers even if time spent alone still dominates my free time. Having a house of my own actually really helps keep that sense of drifting through life heading into my 40s at a more background level than active angst. The holidays should be about being grateful for what one has that truly matters, and to look forward to the return of better days all around. None of that involves spending significant time in a mall.
me myself with my face pressed
up against love's glass
to see the shiny toy I've been hoping for
the one I never can afford"
-- Love Will Come To You, Indigo Girls
It's not a good sign that I was sick to death of the consumerist retail Christmas crap the week before Thanksgiving. I blame Starbucks, which had their stores decked out like Santa's java supply store Monday.
I've been avoiding going out most of the weekend except for necessary trips to the grocery store for some last-minute Thanksgiving supplies and today to replenish my supplies of fresh veggies. I went out yesterday for dinner, and went out for lunch today as I was a bit cooked-out after Thanksgiving day. Both times want I wanted to eat was near, but not in, a mall. The experience at these facilities does not put one into the "Christmas Spirit", unless you define the Christmas Spirit as "the nearly uncontrollable desire to beat the living s**t out of your fellow human being for being in the way and unaware of their surroundings". Really given the standard oblivious behavior of Seattleites in public, it's amazing that they can even get from point A to point B when you throw in the daze induced by "Black Friday" shopping.
Of course I'm probably just being bitter. I admit there are a number of reasons the winter holidays bug me.
Intellectually I'm annoyed by the whole process that encourages people to rush out early a full month before Christmas to cram into a few stores in the hopes of "saving money" by getting stuff they probably don't need at a slight discount on credit for money they don't have. The downturn in the housing market and the tightening of credit will no doubt lead to economic tales of doom and gloom come Monday if the retail numbers aren't "record-breaking". Never mind that the economy has only been running at all by that count on Americans' willingness to impoverish their future for "robust economic activity" today.
My attitude is probably not helped by the fact that I'm not Christian, although it was called "Yule" or "The Winter Solstice" long before it was co-opted so I'm generally down with a celebration at mid-winter. But I prefer the celebration to be about 1 or 2 days long, mostly involving spending time with loved ones and a good meal. I've never decorated my house for any holiday in 8 years, but I suppose this really just reflects the fact that I've been living alone that long. I've never had strong feelings about the 'decoration' thing, usually deferring to the wishes of my partner at the time. Still, I think the holidays in general put one in mind about "family life" and my singlessness seems particularly burdensome at these times.
That said I really can't complain that much. I'm employed and well paid, I have friends and lovers even if time spent alone still dominates my free time. Having a house of my own actually really helps keep that sense of drifting through life heading into my 40s at a more background level than active angst. The holidays should be about being grateful for what one has that truly matters, and to look forward to the return of better days all around. None of that involves spending significant time in a mall.
