i can't tell you how much i really don't like this time of year. there are so many reasons it would take hours to list them all but here are the top 5.
1. it is cold. mind you, the cold itself doesn't bother me. but all the stupid crap you have to put on to go outside which bothers me. i really dislike snow boots and i HATE hats. i really don't think it should take 10 minutes just to get dressed to go outside. and then by the time you've put on the hat and gloves, you're sweating. it's just crazy.
2. people forget how to drive. how is it possible that in just 8 months or so, people who were born and raised in a place that gets a LOT of snow in the winter forget how to drive in it?
3. constantly being wet. i have hardwood floors in my house. once the snow starts they are ALWAYS wet. between my roommate, his friends and myself, there are people almost constantly coming and going from the house tracking in a ton of gross, dirty snow which melts and gets tracked further into the house. i hate wearing shoes in the house, but during the winter i almost have to because otherwise, my feet are guaranteed to find all the freezing cold puddles as i try to get from my couch to the bathroom. it is bad enough that the hem of my pants is wet from the walk in from the car, but now i have puddles of water everywhere. blech...it's gross.
4. the greediness/commercialism that is now a natural part of christmas. no, i'm not immune to it. i'll admit to wanting my fair share at christmas, but it does make me feel guilty. i'd prefer to not receive any gifts at all for christmas, but since i have a mom who loves to give gifts i get them. however, i hate surprises so i make it very clear what i want for christmas so as to not have to pretend to like something i didn't really want and don't really need. very rarely is the christmas list i give my mother things i want, but rather things i need. it is full of things i'll buy myself after christmas if they don't end up under the tree with a tag reading 'to murff, from santa.' christmas to me isn't about getting gifts or fighting over the cheap plasma tv the day after thanksgiving. we're still weeks away from christmas and i'm really tired of the 'i want' i keep hearing around me.
which brings me to number 5 - the lack of christ in christmas.
to me, christmas is about the birth of christ. it isn't about santa. it isn't about who gave and got the best presents. it isn't about christmas trees. i get tired of seeing 'merry xmas' or 'happy holidays' or 'seasons greetings.' this isn't a time of year to be politically correct. this is the season in which the christian community celebrates the birth of christ. if anyone gets offended by being told 'merry christmas' they shouldn't be allowed to celebrate the holiday at all. i get offended when i'm NOT wished a 'merry christmas.' santa is a fun addition to the holiday, but only if you don't forget to teach your children about the nativity as well. santa isn't the reason for the season...just an added bonus. and if you don't follow any religion, then get your own day. if you're religion doesn't celebrate christmas, then embrace your december holiday. either way, don't let my 'merry christmas' offend you, i'm just embracing my beliefs.
but as i sit here writing this, i'm looking out the window. the snow is falling softly, but steadily. the scene is peaceful and beautiful...it makes me think of all the good things about this time of year. while the list is definitely longer for the things i hate about this time of year, there are still things i love. christmas music and movies, the quiet that happens when it snows, giant mugs of hot chocolate, snowball fights, christmas eve services, and actually getting things in the mail that aren't bills. with the obvious exception of christmas eve services, i've experienced all those today and it makes me smile.
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