This time of year is very conflicting for me. I love the cold weather, but the holidays are meaningless to me. I try to participate when it amuses others, but I honestly think it is all contrived bullshit. I'm watching TV for the first time in awhile because I have the day off, it's cold, and I'm trying to save money. Between a number of mindless shows awaits even worse commercials. And of course, all of the commercials are literally advertising the holidays. So far, I have seen a Folgers commercial where a guy returns home and is greeted by his sister [possibly young girlfriend] then puts on a pot of coffee which awakens his parents who exclaim, "He must be home". The guy proceeds to give a gift to his sister/young GF and she takes the bow off of the present and sticks it on the guy. You get the picture. I also saw the generic commercial concept of kids in their pajamas running to retrieve their presents from under the tree, although I am not sure exactly what it was advertising.
I don't know how I became so jaded. Growing up, I loved the holidays and getting presents. I looked forward to writing my letter to Santa, and waking up the next morning to get everything I asked for. My family [especially my sister] made Christmas an "unforgettable" experience. But honestly, now that I think about it, I probably remember 2 Christmases and almost 0 Thanksgivings from birth to 5th grade. So when I say that I loved the holidays and getting presents, I suppose I loved the idea and concept of it all. We were "raised" to love Christmas. You ask for presents, and you get them. We are not even Christian, and I didn't understand the reason for Christmas until much later.
I am positive those things made me happy at the time. That does nothing for me now, and that is my problem with it all. If anything, it helped me develop my materialistic attitude that wasn't fixed until my later years of high school. So now, I reject the holidays altogether. My family has toned down the obligations of the holidays, and I love them so much for that. We never cared if our "celebration" fell on the exact date of the holiday. We stopped making a big deal about it years ago. But I think this is the year to reject it completely. No presents, no real special gathering. My family and I make it a point to all be together at least once a week, so why do we need another reason to want to be together? I don't want a Thanksgiving with turkey and all of the trimmings this year. I actually plan on going to lunch with Sarah and then catching a movie. Christmas won't be plagued by having to pick out the perfect gifts for people you love, but have no idea what to get for them. I know myself the best, and if I want something, I'll go get it my damn self.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the "spirit" of the holidays, but I just can't justify it. I understand how buying gifts and seeing people open them can be rewarding. I just don't care. I have been disappointed too many times, and seen people toss my cookies aside that I spent hours baking [true story]. What is the point of doing Secret Santa and having everyone write up a list of things they want? What a stupid surprise. How about I write up a list of things I think I want, and get them when I can afford to. Don't we do that anyways? So 2009, let's do it right. If I crave a Thanksgiving dinner one day, then well, I'm sure it can be made. I don't expect presents nor do I expect to give any. I think I can buy presents for people anytime throughout the year. I rather give gifts throughout the year and when there is a purpose for them [in my opinion].