Thoughts on the Holidays from a narcissistic realist with the heart of a scarred cynic

The Cheshire Cat 2004-12-13 08:14:04 ET "Christmas is all about knowing what someone wants..." -Canadian Tire radio commercial. Yeah, forget about reflection, love, peace and general goodwill. It's about intuitively knowing another's level of greed. "The Bay. The Official store of Christmas." -Hudson-Bay radio commercial. So God, Jesus and Saint Nick held a committee meeting and unanimously decided that The Bay, not Sears, Target, Macy's or any other department store, friggin' Hudson-Bay is the official store of Christmas. If I hear any pub declare themselves the "official pub of St. Paddy's day" I might just lose it. Funny how companies are just blatantly stating that Christmas is a consumer holiday now. While I hate Starbucks, at least their campaign (which has taken over Eglinton Subway station) has slogans like "Let's exchange stories instead of gifts" or "Let's go Subway Caroling". Of course, they won't hold to it either. That's a thinly veiled façade for expensively bad coffee. I'm not religious, but there is something spiritual in the air. Maybe it's the combined positive energy that many people have, simply because its Christmas. ... Nah. Look at the mall's and you have your answer there. Greed. Power. Beat the other person to the last medium in red. "Christmas is for shopping and the shopping god is everything." -Matt Good. For what it's worth, Happy Holidays.

Neko2631 2004-12-13 10:55:56 ET No, I felt it too, oddly enough. The air just FEELS different around Christmas. I wasn't expecting it, and all of a sudden I just felt it one day, walking in the grocery store parking lot. There's a lot of consumerism, yes, but that charge is still in the air..Christmas isn't dead yet. Greed aside, I bet it's still the time of year when charities recieve more help and more donations than any other time, too.

The Cheshire Cat 2004-12-13 11:59:57 ET This is true, charities do see more donations and volunteering during the Christmas season. But why is it people have to be reminded to do these things? The spirits are in the air, it's just a wonder why people only open their hearts to them once a year.

Neko2631 2004-12-14 10:55:19 ET It wouldn't be as effortless or as special for most people if it was more than just one short season a year. They'd all get burned out. I tell you what though...I could definately do without those Salvation Army people ringing their bells outside of every store...I don't like that form of solicitation. ~_~

The Cheshire Cat 2004-12-14 11:26:43 ET I'm not 100% on those people. I heard somthing about that organization a little while back and while I haven't researched the rumour, I'm leery of them. They seem passively aggressive in their tactics.

Neko2631 2004-12-15 06:42:29 ET I detest sales people in general. I'm not an asshat to them, but inside, they make me seeeeth. Soliciting for donations is no different, especially when they position themselves beside the store's only exit. ~_~ In all fairness though, that guy WAS doing some fancy juggling tricks...

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