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Good Tidings
A nice thing to remember on a cloudy December afternoon:
It is, indeed, the season of regenerated feeling – the season for kindling, not merely the fire of hospitality in the hall, but the genial flame of charity in the heart.
–Washington Irving (from The Sketch Book)
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Bombardment
For the past six days, my inbox (something tells me your inbox too) has looked like a who’s who of desperation.
“Get Free Shipping + over $1000 in Cyber Monday savings”
“Enjoy 25% OFF & Shop Our Top 10 Gift Ideas”
“Today only: Great pricing on exclusive accessories.”
“Site Wide Event Continues… Last Days… Shop Till You Drop Cyber Monday Sales Event”
“Last Days to Save: Buy 2 Bras Get 1 Free, 25% Off Sleep, Plus More Great Deals!”
They range from simple to verbose, from stating the facts to obnoxiously begging for our attention (and dollars). But they’re all designed to do the same thing.
I like a good deal, and were it not for my bank account, I’d use the coupon codes I find much more frequently, so at first I was looking at these things thinking, ohmygodthatisagooddeal, until I got a little screen fatigue and realized I was letting them whip me up into a full-body rabid foam. (I don’t know about you, but I prefer life as a solid.)
I’m so overloaded by my inbox right now I’m actually feeling a little sick at the sight of it. But I don’t think that’s uncommon; it’s just so easy to be disgusted with the race to SAVE FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
I wonder what it would look like if every copywriter had to switch “save” for “spend” — “LAST DAY TO SPEND!” — would it change the behavior or encourage it? OhmygodtheymustknowsomethingIdon’tIreallyshouldbuythis.
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O Tannenbaum
So, it is upon us. Tomorrow is Jesus’ birthday.
In the past, I was consistently more excited about this night than the night before my own birthday. (Presents for EVERYBODY, not just me!) But life goes on and people grow up and get sick and get selfish and grow apart.
Which is all a protracted way of saying that I’m not so much in the holiday spirit this year.
In spite of that, I’m hoping to salvage the day with a nice Jewish Christmas with my Mom tomorrow. (New York Jewish, anyway: a trip to the movies followed by diner food or Chinese. Does it work the same in Oklahoma? I’m new at this not being with family on Christmas thing.)
Anyway, let’s pretend I’m in the mood for all this, as I halfway was a few weeks ago, when I took these shots.
We acquired the perfect tree on Astor Place, and Eric carried it all the way home for me, because he’s a gentleman like that.
And then we realized how cuttingly appropriate his choice of shirt was.
Then, to add insult to injury, I tortured the poor tree and dressed it up all fruity.
All while it watched more of its brethren being sold just outside.
But as it turned out, it liked looking all pretty. I think it was won over by the shiny lights.
Plus, it got to look up a cute girl’s skirt.
And hang out with a peppy, clever little Dickensian mouse.
And a couple of monkeys. (These are supposed to be me and Eric. What, you don’t see the resemblance?)
And this guy, who looks like he could eat you, no?
Anyway, Merry Christmas! I hope yours is sweet and fun and just as long as you’d like it to be.
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Mr. Fezziwig
Everywhere I look, I see people who are pissed off about Christmas The Holiday Season. Mostly for reasons that can be averted.
And too many of them are the people who are usually balanced and happy, optimistic and full of energy. People you’d think would spread the cheer. But they can’t, because their shoulders up to their ears in stress.
I’m no saint, I’m not a “spend-nothing” hippie, and I’m certainly not a “reason for the season” evangelist. I am a pragmatist. And all these things that are making us lucky middle-classers so upset and stressed and frenzied CAN BE AVOIDED. So let’s get a grip on things, shall we? Look at the state of affairs in the world.
“Yes,” you say, “just look at the state of affairs in the world. Things are falling apart, so I’m going to hold onto Christmas and everything it’s always meant with my cold, dead fingers.”
Fine, I get it. Change sucks – especially change for the worse. But what has Christmas always meant to you? Overspending, stressing out, running around until you’ve checked every store in the tri-state area, and fighting your way through Black Friday crowds no matter the cost?
I’m not saying skip the presents. I’m not saying skip the tree, not even the ham or the flight home, or the rental car. But skip the goddamn stress over getting the perfect thing for everyone. It doesn’t exist.
No matter what the holiday means to you – whether it’s about Jesus’ birth or merely being with family – try to remember why it is you’re doing this, why you get a tree or buy some presents or get together on December 25.
And then maybe consider how ugly it is to connect that day with rushing, beating others to the punch, and spend-spend-spending. Why is it that this time of year has us so obsessed with material things that we can’t settle for just one pair of sneakers, or two video games, not ten? I’m a capitalist through and through, but it’s this rush, the urgency that disgusts me. That a man is trampled and the trampling shoppers are disappointed that the shopping is over.
Think about what will make your friends and family smile. And if it’s three Wiis, five cashmere sweaters, and an elephant, they’re the ones in need of a reality check, not you. We all need a little more Fezziwig and a little less Scrooge.
Enjoy the smell of evergreen, the sparkly lights around town, your family’s old ornaments, and all the sugar cookies, fudge, and peppermint bark you can. Just calm the fuck down… and, also, you know, God rest ye, Merry Gentlemen.
