The View from a Drawbridge

This year I saw my first official Christmas commercial on November eleventh. Already? Decorations in the stores cannot be far behind. I feel like I’ll have to take a really deep breath and sink below the surface of society between now and January second, because it has become too much to take. Honestly, the Christmas spirit has been beaten out of me by Madison Avenue. I’m so over it.

I feel particularly hypersensitive to this whole phenomenon this time around because I will be spending Christmas alone in a state where I don’t know anyone. No one will be waiting for me under the mistletoe. It’s hard to feel all warm and fuzzy when the chestnuts are roasting on everyone else’s fire but your own. Bah humbug.

And when you’re grumpy or blue during the holiday season, you feel added societal pressure because ‘tis the season to be jolly, after all. What the hell is wrong with you? Here, pacify yourself with a candy cane. Fa la la.

I truly believe that the greatest gifts you can give anyone are understanding, compassion, patience and tolerance. So if you are in the mood to jingle your bells and deck your halls and grate us with your tidings, do the rest of us a favor. Cut us a little slack. Tone it down just a few notches, m’kay? Let us grumble in peace.

I don’t even like candy canes.