by G E Barr

Created on: November 24, 2009

Ho Hum

Two weeks ago, I visited a certain dollar store that carries name brands rather cheap, and I was astonished at the christmas stuff. A convenience store not far from where I live has a giant, blown-up Santa Claus out front. I noticed it when I went in carrying my two year old grand daughter, who, quite taken aback, yelled out, "Oh, gawd, Nana, what is that?".

"Looks like Santa Claus to me, Ahna-Ahna."

"Santa Claus?" She asked me with wide eyes.

"Yes, a fictional character." I assured her.

We don't believe in Santa Claus. Never did. I see no reason to delude children's minds with lies. Santa Claus is a lie. A myth is something you read about. Like Cinderella. Nobody teaches their daughters that they should marry the guy who brings their shoe to them. Who in their right mind wants to live with a bunch of oafish, ugly women who hate your guts and make you clean their house? And who, in their right mind actually believes that there's a fat guy, dressed in red, checking a list with gifts just for you? Oh, and the sleigh thing really knocks me out.

When my children were young, I realized that life was going to be tough enough for them and I just didn't want to include Santa Claus. To me, Santa Claus is a ridiculous notion. A set up. A bad joke. Kind of like telling children that they can be "anything they want to be". Because they cannot. They can be what they have the talent and drive to be. Tell a kid who's been abused and neglected that he or she can be anything they dream up, then watch the big let down. Pretty cruel.

Ever driven through a lower class neighborhood after New Year's? Notice the strings of glitter clinging to bushes. Notice the sparkle of Christmas trashed across the yards. Odd, but this is why I dislike Christmas the most.

What can I say about the holiday shoving, I mean shopping? Hordes of women blocking aisles, pretending not to see those who need to pass. Their children shreiking, slapping and otherwise opening a big catalogue of holiday angst. One reads it cautiously in passing.

Even were I moneyed, I could not get excited about Christmas. It is just a financial and emotional drain. It is a trashed out yard. It is a blow-up effigy of plastic nothingness. A hollow place of regret and greed.

My son and I will give it a nod though. When he leaves for college, I won't even notice the day. I save my children money that way. It is a good thing. They can take that money buy something they need. Something that will give them comfort.

I am simply appalled by Christmas.

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