Let me preface this entry by saying that my absolute favorite month and holiday are October and therefore Halloween.  Everything after that just feels like a pressure cooker where I’m basically miserable.  I don’t like Thanksgiving, perhaps because I worked in retail during this season and had to work on Black Friday, and because my mom lasted way longer than I did in retail and always had to work Black Friday.  So, I don’t have much love for a holiday I never really got to enjoy. 

Christmas is just bad for me because I gained all of my holiday issues when I was 18.  Eighteen years of being with my family for Christmas (no matter how miserable it made all of us), and then, Blam!  Parents who were getting a divorce (thankfully) and one of the parents leaving to spend the holiday with their new partner on Christmas Eve.  My other parent was a wonderful source of comfort that night and got me drunk.  Woo hoo for divorced parents at 18!

So, as you can all clearly see I have no love for this time of year.  Which is why when I ask these questions I honestly want to know if I’m just that jaded or if it’s really getting that bad. 

1.  Why do radio stations have to start with the Christmas music the day after Halloween?  I was ok with it when it started the day after Thanksgiving.  It’s called Black Friday for a reason.  That is the day when Christmas pretty much officially begins.  And I accepted that.  I was able to live with a month.  My family was able to live with a month of me being six of the seven of the dwarves in one day (Doc really had nothing to do with these moods, then again there was the self medication). 

2.  Who are you people who are putting out all of your Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving is even near?  Why are you doing it?  Do you think you are helping others get into the spirit of the holiday?  You’re not!  I understand wanting to get out there and string the lights on the trees and house before it gets too cold.  I get it.  Who wants to string lights in -20 degree weather?  So, go ahead string those lights.  But if you plug them in, I will come over to your house and tear them down.  As a matter of fact, this goes for the people who have to have the whole North Pole scene assembled on their front lawn too.  That stuff could have waited one more freaking week, don’t ya think?

3.  Mall Santas.  You don’t need to be there on November 1st.  All you’re doing is getting any children in the mall all riled up way too soon.  I know you are just good hard working citizens trying to make ends meet, buy Christmas presents, put food on the table, whatever the case may be.  But seriously! 

Does anyone else feel like this?  I know that some people love this time of year (my sister in law is one).  I have nothing against you.  I think it’s fantastic that you love these holidays.  Someone should.  Every year this time comes, and I go through the motions.  I put out the decorations (the day after Thanksgiving, more like that weekend actually), I go shopping and go broke doing it just like everyone else.  But, in all honesty I feel no actual joy in the doing of it.  And I don’t try to drag those who still like these holidays down with me.  I don’t want to suck all of the joy out of it for them.  But, can’t it go back to the way it used to be?  Can’t we just start preparing for Christmas after Thanksgiving?  Can’t we let one holiday pass before we start celebrating the next one?

If anyone wants to tell me their stories, or even try to answer these questions for me; insight and opinions are welcome!