I’ve always liked the Christmas season. I enjoy seeing the neat ideas that people come up with while decorating their houses. I enjoy taking time to get together with folks and sharing special moments. This year should prove to be even more special as I have a couple extra special people in my life to share it with.
One of the things about Christmas that does get on my nerves is the crassness that seems to over take people as the season draws near. I’ve always been taught that this is a season for love and sharing, but you wouldn’t know it by some of the things you see going on as you go about your daily endevours. People seem to take on new persona’s at Christmas. They go into overdrive rushing around to get this or that, often at the sake of their own or other’s saftey. I guess I’m old fashioned or something. I step aside and let them rush by often chortling a happy comment at them just to see their reaction. It is utterly amazing how many people act surprised or even aggrevated that you took the time to say “Hello” or “Merry Christmas”.
There were several moments yesterday while I was out shopping that irked me. These people were in such a rush that they wouldn’t take the time to look before jutting out into a store aisleway with their cart, yet they leave their carts in the middle of the aisles while they dig for their bargain. Should you say “Excuse me” or attempt to squeeze around them, they look at you like you are out of you mind. Heaven forbid you touch their cart. You might as well be trying to steal all the gold from Fort Knox.
That brings up another thing that I have noticed this year, distruction of the store and inventory. I can’t believe how many places I have been where I see things on the shelf that are utterly destroyed. I appears that customers have torn open packages or crushed other items trying to get to their prized purchase. I wonder how much loss will be tallied up this year just in inventory too damaged to sell. If you haven’t purchased an item, you shouldn’t be tearing it apart or standing on it so you can reach the doll on the top shelf (Yes, I saw this at Walmart yesterday).
Oh yes, then there is parking lot etiquette. It would appear that everyone in my area is practicing for the Indy 500, Daytona 500, or some other highspeed race that must be coming up in the very near future. Parking lots are called parking lots for a reason. This is where you stop your car so you can get out and go into the stores. I must have missed the signs for the Richard Petty Driving School Classes that were taking place at our mall yesterday. Is it really necessary to get up to 65 mph in the 75 feet between the Stop Sign and the next interesection, which also requires you to stop.
While we’re on the subject of parking lots, What is it with some people!? They paint those big arrows on the asphalt for a reason folks. Your car should be travelling in the direction the arrow is pointing. OH YES! And there is also a reason why they have those nice little angled lines on the ground too. You know the ones. The ones that make it easy to just pull in at an angle so you have enough room to get out and the guy/gal next to you can get back in to his/her vehicle. I saw at least 3 bozos come down the row the wrong way then tie up traffic while they twisted and turned their vehicles to get them into the spot. This would be the spot they race the guy down the other row for. I just sat there and shook my head, politely waiting my turn. They guy gave me a dirty look, like I was the one who had to do a 5 point turn to get in a spot that someone else was waiting to get into.
Oh well, I guess you’ll have all theses things. I just don’t ever recall a Christmas where I heard on the national news that a person was trampled to death while attempting to open the store for business. Was this person really deserving of that kind of death? What kind of savage people have we become if we can’t even wait until the doors are properly opened and the store is ready for us to come in? I saw a list of the things that were on sale that day and I saw nothing on the list that even remotely warranted such ‘over enthusiasm’ that property was damaged, let alone someone be trampled to death. I feel sorry for his family and the families of the employees that knew him. They lost a loved one because a group of people were so greedy that they stampeded the store.
This Christmas Eve, when I sit down with my special someone, I will be all the more thankful for the time we spend. For it is the time we spend with those most special to us, not the money we spend, that is what this holiday is all about. The best gift I can give them is me, because without me, no matter how much is spent, the packages are just packages, material things. They only become gifts when they come from the heart. It doesn’t really matter how big or how small, how silly or how serious. It is who it came from that makes the difference.
I wish all of you a very special Christmas this year. May you find love, joy and happiness with those whom you gather. May the lights brighten your heart. Let the bobbles on the tree be the sparkle in your eye as you give of yourself and your time to someone else this season.
Merry Christmas!