The Christmas Blog

To begin with, merry Christmas. Despite appearances, and my proclamation that I hate Christmas, I am not entirely all that much of a Scrooge or Grinch. It is true that it is my least favorite of the holidays. I do my best to avoid he hoopla for the day. I have a unique perception of what the masses see this holiday as and that drives my feelings for Christmas.

Looking back, I have to say my favorite Christmas was the first one my family celebrated in Japan. We had just moved and did not have a lot of money. There was not even enough money to buy a tree that year for Christmas. Santa would not have anything to put presents under until my family took what we had and made Christmas. We spent quality time together and built our own Christmas tree out of construction paper. I really wish I had a picture of that tree. If people were to look at it face value, the tree might have been more than a few steps below a Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I thought it was magnificent.

There are few charming qualities that Christmas beholds. People seem to have an extra bit of generosity, and are more warmhearted. People actually try greeting other people instead of rushing by, and they might even manage a response. Quality time with loved ones is something that we strive for during this holiday season and I always want that. The fact that most of my loved ones smile more around this time of the year, is one that I really do enjoy. I enjoy a lot of the Christmas movies as well. I do not think I could pick a favorite, but there are a few I like more than others. The Muppet's Christmas Carol, Scrooged, and It's a Wonderful Life would have to be at the top. Sadly I never much enjoyed A Christmas Story the way others have. I suppose it is an alright movie, just not my favorite.

The one truly lamentable thing about this holiday is something I really open about. I loathe gifts. In this season people sometimes forget about the holiday cheer when going shopping and become more monster than merry. The human nature behind gifts is something I even succumb to. The idea behind buying a singular person a gift is not lamentable, it is charitable. It is when you purchase in bulk that it can become ludicrous. Trying to match prices and comparing what each one received is more anti-Christmas spirit than it is in the spirit, but that is what happens. It should not matter what one person gave to another, but we make it. People feel left out, people become jealous of a better gift, people make it less about the spirit and more about the gifts. The best of us do not let these natural feelings overcome us and we move on to better feelings.

I am a blessed man, I have received many quality gifts this year already and am appreciated of every one of those. Mom tacked on a few more last night to appreciate. I now have a picture board to add to my home, a puzzle that I will place at work for people to figure out, and a very cute apron featuring a gorilla that says "G'rilla at Work". I am very appreciated for what I have in my life. The true gifts in my life are The One, my family and my framily, my health, my home, Dog, my job and a lot more than I could ever count. Those are the gifts I accept with great admiration day in and day out. That is the holiday cheer I keep close to my heart.

~Skate