Bah, Hum-Fuck!

That was the text inside a greeting card way back in the 1970s and I have always loved it. There was another one with a smirking elf sitting under a tree on the cover, with the text inside reading, "meet me under the Christmas tree and I'll kiss you beneath the balls."

Anyway...

I can't seem to get into the holiday spirit this year. It all seems so shallow, forced, desperate, and contrived.   Now more than ever.

The other day as I ran errands I noticed that the parking lots of shopping centers were empty, as were those of the super markets, and (of all places) Walmart.  Every stop was like a ghost town with only 1 or 2 checkout stations open and not a person in line. 

Of course, it made my work a breeze and with the various bored sales staff vying for my attention at every stop, I was finished and back home in time for lunch.  I will not complain.  I dread running any errands involving retail during the season, but this was something completely different.  Eerie and a bit unsettling.

For the moment, at least, there is no holiday music at the restaurant, so I am spared multiple listenings to dogs barking "Jingle Bells", or that country fave "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer", the 60 year-old  Chipmunks, that most annoying "Dominic The Donkey",  and all the other kitschy cute tunes of the season.  I fear that will all end tomorrow; there will be a marathon in town and we have reservations for huge groups celebrating their holiday get togethers with us.

I purchased a bottle of the best eggnog around these parts, a small bottle of bourbon, and will mix the two - for medicinal purposes, of course - to jump start my ho-ho-ho attitude, if necessary.

BTW, thanks for the comments and private emails regarding the back pain (from yesterday's post) and suggestions to help alleviate some of the pain.  I appreciate your input and caring.

And so it goes.
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