I Don’t Exactly Hate The Holidays

But I admit to being tired of some aspects of them at this point,

Please take your pumpkin spice everything and do unspeakable things with it.

Christmas music starting in November? There is only so much Bing, Burl, and Mariah a person can handle.

Christmas music part 2: turn down the level in retail stores. I don’t need it blaring at an aircraft engine decibel level to get into a shopping mood. If I am there, I am already doing it.

Christmas music, part 3: every local station turns to 24/7 holiday music at this point. All I can say is, thank goodness for podcasts and digital radio music service.

The food: I am actually fine with imaginative holiday food displays. Most of them, especially the upscale shops and grocery stores, do a good job with excellent products. It’s the miles and aisles of cheap tinned cookies, popcorn, trays of summer sausage and evil cheese, and boxes of bad chocolate (how hard is it to get good chocolate now?) that make me want to rage at the corny consumerism.

Gift ideas: I prefer to be asked what I want/need. I don’t need anything, but the want list always has some things on it, like a gift card for running, cycling, or swim gear, maybe one for Ulta (my version of the most fab female funhouse), a small kitchen appliance, or a paid trip to the salon for hair or nails. That’s it. I am not a lover of fine clothes, shoes, or jewelry. I have been seeing a lot of commercials and articles about high-end vacuum cleaners recently. Don’t even think about it. You will sleep with that if you buy it as a gift.

The whole “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays” conundrum: We’re still working on the politically correct thing here? People are dying in wars, running from bombs, and living without basic food, shelter, education, and jobs, and this is where we are? Enough already. I don’t care which one you use, as long as you mean it. I won’t get mad.

You’re in a hurry, but cut everyone some slack: Wait until people finish crossing in the crosswalk. Don’t blow through red lights. And that car horn is not a toy. Show your barista, grocery clerks, restaurant servers, dry cleaners, babysitters, and others who are there for you a little love and some money.

And show yourself some real love. Get vaccinated, sleep well, stay healthy, keep up the exercise, and the (mostly) good eating habits.