merry effing christmas

Oh that what follows were an original sentiment. 

Here we are - two days to the big day.  Christmas.  The big letdown.  Bah humbug.  But in theory I really love that people think that they are trying to be better people at this time of year (of course if they could try doing it for more than just a few days a year the world would be a much better place).  But in reality, in America at the beginning of the 21st century, few people are skirting the edges of sainthood.  More than anything they are buying into the notion that you can buy the love of your friends and family with ever more extravagant gifts. 

My cynicism hit its peak this evening after work when I stopped by the UPS store where I choose to receive my mail.  Not my parcels, but my everyday, not exciting, not-from-Zappos mail.  While I waited to speak to one of the employees, I noticed that the place looked like Santa's workshop had exploded nearby.  Parcels and parcels everywhere and little UPS Store workers scurrying around to ship it all.  And I do not live in a shipping mecca where one might expect such a high volume.  So conceivably this could be happening in every UPS Store and US Postal Service office across the country - and I am sure it is barely going to let up before the weekend.  What gross consumerism, I thought to myself.  What an embarrassment of riches we are all choking on.

Don't get me wrong - I am a shop-happy, Visa-wielding, Amazon Prime-shopping maniac 12 months of the year.  But when I see everyone doing it - people who I always have to hear about on the local news that people are stretching their budgets so that they can buy Timmy his $9000 PlayStation technogadget I have no sympathy.  Over-hyped under-tested must-haves that will be gathering dust drifts within a few weeks time are not worth putting yourself and your family into hock over.  Timmy will survive the stigma of not having the latest game box, hubby will survive without his new Lexus, and darling wifey can survive without a Journey Diamond pendant.  Heck those adverts make me feel pressured to buy these things and I don't even have anyone to give such things to! 

Short and simple:  give year round, give within your budget and don't buy into the madness - or shut up about it.  Oh yes, and "Bah Humbug!"