And to all a good night
Amber Chemam
Issue date: 12/4/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 2 next >
I am generally one of the most pessimistic individuals you are likely to meet. I like to think of myself as realistic, but others would disagree. My roommate always informs people (upon introduction) that, at some point in the first five minutes of our conversation, I will likely say something negative.
I am not disputing this fact.
However, it is also a well-known fact among those close to me that the best mood you will find me in is likely to fall somewhere in between Black Friday and Dec. 26. I happen to just love Christmas and everything that goes along with it. I cannot really explain the inconsistency that statement presents to the rest of my personality and general demeanor.
I love the music, the shopping, the lights and colors. I walk by the tree area at Kroger and cannot help but lean in close to pick of the fresh pine scent that can only be enjoyed once a year. It started when I was a kid and has continued ever since.
But…
(And here comes the pessimism.)
I cannot help but notice that, year-by-year, the holidays become less meaningful and more hassle-full, and this is truly a tragedy to me. Sure, I am still in limbo, caught between the days of Santa-stories and office parties, and Christmas has not yet completely lost its fun. Still, I feel that time is fast approaching.
This year, our Christmas day dinner will be minus one more family member, and I am almost sure to be tapped out of gift budget before even getting to the "co-workers and other courtesy-inclusions" part of my list. My roommates want a hot pink tree and my mom has decided that turkey, ham and other traditional food options just have too much cholesterol to serve this year. We're having baked fish and asparagus salad instead.
What happened to tradition?
The things I loved about the holiday season are being quickly replaced with debt-inducing gift cost, five extra pounds to worry about and an abundance of time-consuming social requirements I could not care less about.
I am not disputing this fact.
However, it is also a well-known fact among those close to me that the best mood you will find me in is likely to fall somewhere in between Black Friday and Dec. 26. I happen to just love Christmas and everything that goes along with it. I cannot really explain the inconsistency that statement presents to the rest of my personality and general demeanor.
I love the music, the shopping, the lights and colors. I walk by the tree area at Kroger and cannot help but lean in close to pick of the fresh pine scent that can only be enjoyed once a year. It started when I was a kid and has continued ever since.
But…
(And here comes the pessimism.)
I cannot help but notice that, year-by-year, the holidays become less meaningful and more hassle-full, and this is truly a tragedy to me. Sure, I am still in limbo, caught between the days of Santa-stories and office parties, and Christmas has not yet completely lost its fun. Still, I feel that time is fast approaching.
This year, our Christmas day dinner will be minus one more family member, and I am almost sure to be tapped out of gift budget before even getting to the "co-workers and other courtesy-inclusions" part of my list. My roommates want a hot pink tree and my mom has decided that turkey, ham and other traditional food options just have too much cholesterol to serve this year. We're having baked fish and asparagus salad instead.
What happened to tradition?
The things I loved about the holiday season are being quickly replaced with debt-inducing gift cost, five extra pounds to worry about and an abundance of time-consuming social requirements I could not care less about.