Tis The Season...To Be Miserable

Christmas shopping is in full swing and what I can't figure out is why it makes people so miserable. If shopping doesn't make you happy you're definitely shopping for the wrong stuff and, most likely, the wrong reasons. It's not supposed to be about the stuff. It's supposed to be about the joy of giving.

I guess I don't understand the people who wait until the last couple of weeks before Christmas to even start their shopping. There isn't a time during the year when I am NOT Christmas shopping. Maybe that's because of my desire to spread the financial burden through the entire year as well as to buy items that I think the giftees will really appreciate.

This year I finished my Christmas shopping in November. That's actually a little late for me. But now, since I LIKE choosing and giving gifts, I still want to find more stuff to give. This is when I have to start searching the house for odds and ends that can be made into a creative gift, which tends to be a problem because not only are my work hours completely out of control but I am coming up to the end of the fall semester with the explosive increase in amounts of school work due.

But the bottom line is that getting ready for Christmas makes me happy. I enjoy buying things for people. What I don't understand are the people who are Christmas shopping and acting miserable about it. Or complaining about how huge their credit card bills will be in January. I think it's a matter of shopping because they feel they have to (which tends to lead to people who give lousy gifts...fruitcake anyone?). Okay, yes, it is the thought that counts, but honestly? If all people are thinking while they are shopping is how much they hate buying stuff for other people and how they don't want to spend the money, it's no wonder they give gifts that suck.

These are also the people who tend to take every imaginary slight out on the cashier. I'm terribly sorry that we are out of stock on the item that they HAVE TO HAVE, but since I didn't buy them all myself (and am not in charge of acquiring merchandise for the store), I wish these people would yank the stick out of their ass and calm the hell down. The world is not going to end if you have to choose something else to give your mother-in-law's best friend's uncle's cat. Then again, if you are buying gifts for your mother-in-law's best friend's uncle's cat, you not only need to get a life, but rethink what you are trying to do by buying a gift for him,.

I also don't understand the people who have the philosophy that you should give as a gift something that the person would not buy for him or herself. Honestly? If I wouldn't buy it for myself, I wouldn't want someone to buy it for me. I would rather have something practical. I used to hate it when I was a kid and got socks and underwear for Christmas. Now I think it's a great gift and I wish someone would buy me some bras. That's my idea of a good gift - something that I need and will use. NOT another dust catcher.

The bottom line? If you are that pissed off about giving, maybe you should rethink your reasons. If you would rather spend the money on yourself (and then wonder why you have no friends), go for it. Just stop being miserable and making every attempt to ruin the holidays for those of us who are making a valiant effort to enjoy them.