Can You Feel The Stress Out There?

[Mr. Sandman]

98% of what I buy is online now. Part of the reason is that where I live there are not many stores but the main reason is I hate malls, esp. in the Christmas period. I agree, the driving, parking, loud people, and general rudeness in largre shopping complexes detract so much from season I just don't do it anymore. There is no hoopla buying gifts on line. I turn on the Christmas music, and start clicking. While I was on a recent trip I made the mistake to walk into a large electronics store looking for an ipod for my son. Well the staff was very nice explaining all the differences between mp3 players but didn't have anything in stock and the people in the store were so annoying I left with nothing. The check out lines were enormous and not worth the wait. They can't keep enough popular products on hand to satisfy demand so it is a first come first serve thing and it becomes a mad house. They told me people were in line at 3:00am for the 50 new Xbox’s and they were gone in 30 seconds and most of them found their way to an Ebay auction selling at some absurd price. What has this holiday turned into? IMO Christmas has been morphed into a competitive buying frenzy. Why do we get so stressed out about not getting "the perfect gift" for that kid or person? It simply is not that important and not part of the season.

I actually feel sad around the holidays. Sad that my kids can't experience the Christmas I knew when I was their age. It was a different Christmas, one that filled all your senses. The music, smells, tastes and sights with family were overwhelming. It is just not the same anymore. Sure we have a pleasant holiday nowadays and my kids get excited like most but it is not the same. I don't think it is possible to deliver a Christmas like I knew in todays world.
What happened to the Christmas I knew? Heck its impolite to even calls it "Christmas" any more? WT%!!?! No offense to anyone but I never heard of KWANZA when I was a kid. What the hell is KWANZA? You just can't create a new holiday season?!! I thought Kwanza was a cracker company of some kind that made those oyster crackers you put in chowda! IMO there simply is no such thing it was made up to differentiate and further separate ethnic groups which is downright sad this time of year. I have been told that KWANZA it is not a substitute for Christmas...then why is it celebrated at the same time? Stop taking away from my holiday!!!! I wish people Merry Christmas and let them deal with the P.C. of it. Christmas is just not the same in many aspects anymore.

However, I'll tell ya, after seeing there responses to the "helping a friend" thread, I am glad to see the spirit isn't all lost here at SB.com!! This is quite a group.

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas this season!

[afterhours]

[QUOTE=Mr. Sandman]gift" for that kid or person? It simply is not that important and not part of the season.

I actually feel sad No offense to anyone but I never heard of KWANZA when I was a kid. What the hell is KWANZA? You just can't create a new holiday season?!! I thought Kwanza was a cracker company of some kind that made those oyster crackers you put in chowda! IMO there simply is no such thing it was made up to differentiate and further separate ethnic groups which is downright sad this time of year. I have been told that KWANZA it is not a substitute for Christmas...then why is it celebrated at the same time?

[Karl F]

Don,
Check out:
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/origins1.html

founded in 1966....

so, I guess you can make up your own holiday...

therefore, we have "Plugfest"

[Striperknight]

Originally Posted by Karl F

Don,
Check out:
http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/origins1.html

founded in 1966....

so, I guess you can make up your own holiday...

therefore, we have "Plugfest"

Thats why there is festivus for the rest of us.

[justplugit]

What is this. Thanksgiving weekend my favorite radio station starts playin Christmas music 24/7 as most of the other staions, as i am sure thats what the retail sponsors wanted.

Today, i go down to pick out my tree and they're playin rap and acid rock over the tree lots loud speaker.

Ya know what, i'm with Karl F and Mr.Sandman, remember whom the day is about, and P.C. or not, MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[MoroneSaxatilis]

I don't know if I'm old enough (49) to qualify as a GOP, but I was a young kid in the early sixties and even back then I can remember that all I could think about was what Santa was going to bring me. Even back then, there were the "must have" toys (My Mom still has the photos to prove it). Does anyone remember the aluminum tree with the rotating colored wheel (red, blue, orange, green)? I would lay on the carpet and watch that thing for Hours. That was probably the beginning of the end of "traditional Christmas"; a tree made out of aluminum.
It's true that there seemed to be a lot more family involved. On Christmas Eve we would go and visit all sorts of family starting in late afternoon/early evening, then later on we would head home to receive more family. Some family members would not show up until after Midnight Mass.
But there were Always many gifts involved. There was always too much money spent. There was too much debt incured by people would probably could not afford it. Those were the days before BankAmericard (Visa) was a common thing, but "Buy Now, Pay Later" was an option offered by many merchants.
It's also true that as corporate greed grows, retailers push the "buying season" at an accelerated rate. Halloween stuff shows up at Labor Day, Thanksgiving stuff shows up on Halloween, and so forth.
I'm just not sure that, all this PC stuff aside, the way we celebrate Christmas has changed all that much. My guess is that since we were more on the receiving end as kids, we didn't see all the behind the scenes stuff that we experience as adults. We didn't have to worry about whether or not we had forgotten to buy a gift for this one or that one. We didn't have to head downtown (there were no malls around here back then) and battle the crowds at stores packed with other holiday shoppers. All we knew was that we were going to so-and-so's house, that Aunt so-and-so would be there, that cousin so-and-so would be there, and that there would be cookies, egg nog and other treats, and that a good time would seemingly be had by all.
I can remember that my Dad used to say, "Christmas is for the kids, and New Years is for the adults.
My brother and my sisters all made an agreement several years back. We simply don't buy any gifts for each other. We just get together, eat, tell stories, and laugh a lot.
I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.