Merry F-ing Christmas

I always wonder what about this time of year turns people into raving lunatics. Is it that they place too much emphasis on finding just that right present? Or is that they place too much emphasis on things? I think it's a combination of alot of things, but that those two figure pretty high in the balance.

We had to run some errands today. We did the bank, library, post office, and Wal Mart. We should get it straight right now that I have started avoiding that big box store unless I absolutely have to go. Every time I go I feel like screaming "I hate this store!" Anyhoo, all of our errands involved getting out of the car. But my kids were troopers. But some people we ran into were just serious bah-humbugs.

There was a lady at the library who had the look. You know the look. The one that says she just smelled something bad. And it's her. Yeah, not nice. My kids were kind of staring, and I had to refocus their attention on something else. I have also decided that the boy is not allowed to check out books unless they are previously approved. He has been getting books that are well below his reading level. And most of them were read by the time we got back to the house. But the clerk was nice enough and even wished us Happy Holidays. I always say Merry Christmas back. I don't really care if they celebrate Kwanzaa or Hanukka or whatever. They can say that and I would still respond with a Merry Christmas.

The clerks in the post office were a little rude. I understand that they are butt slamming busy this time of year, but really. I didn't ask you to take this job. You accepted this position when it was offered to you. Get the hell over it. I wanted the clerk to run my last minute cards through the happy postage machine and then I would pay for it. She didn't. She handed me 11 stamps. Thank you for letting me play stickers with my kids. I let the kids help and then we all put them in the slot. "Next!", she yelled before I had even put my change in my pocket. And Merry Christmas to you.

And the parking lot at Wal Mart was horrible. The traffic alone to get into the parking lot was miserable. People just don't want to wait. And if they do, they don't want to wait for long. I had two people do the daredevil pulling out in front of me stunt. I told the kids, stay close, it's a madhouse. The boy was funny. We had been in the store all of 2 minutes, when he said he thought it was just the parking lot. But the store was crazy, too. He makes me laugh. I told him that's why I wanted him to stay close.

And nobody had any patience in the store. People were just running their carts wherever they could, not giving anyone an inch. My poor kids. At one point they had to let go of the cart to get through a small space. Then somebody got between us. I pulled over until they could catch up, which got me a couple of rude looks. They're lucky I didn't push all the carts out of the way to get to my kids. It wasn't the baby, though. She stayed with me.

And speaking of the baby. She copped a little attitude with her brother at one point. But don't feel bad for him. He has a tendency to treat her like crap, so sometimes he gets what he deserves. Unfortunately, when it was time to say goodbye to the lobsters in the seafood department, she didn't want to go. I had to literally drag her back to the cart. Then the litle bugger let go of my hand and tripped on her shoe. Her sprawling out in the middle of the floor of WalMart made me look really bad. Then as I'm trying to talk to her about it, some old guy starts "Oh, poor baby" crap. Dude, I do not need your help. I really hope I don't see it on the news. I don't have time to go to jail before Christmas, because it looked like I flung her to the ground. Great.

And the cashier. She was another one that looked like she smelled something bad. No personality, no smile, no nothing. The boy was loading the cart for me, my big helper. When I asked him if that was everything, she barks, "That's it." Okay, and thank you. And Merry Christmas to you. And the parking lot was no better on our way out than in. People still trying to pull out in front of me. As I was backing out, a car stopped to get my spot. They could have stopped a little sooner and actually given me room to back out. I had to do a three point turn. Merry Christmas.

And through it all, I just smiled. My Christmas shopping is done, Santa is coming, and I get to open my big box in two days. And God gave us a Savior in his son Jesus. Aaahh!

I know why people get stressed out during this time, and I can say I have to try really hard not to give in. But common courtesy and a smile seem to get me through. That and blogging about it. Thank goodness for a blog.

If I don't blog between now and Christmas, have a great one. Please read the Christmas Story, Luke 2:1-20. Also read about the angel's visit to Mary in Luke 1:26-38. Matthew 1:18-25 is Joseph's story. I urge all of you to focus some time on the real meaning of Christmas and to keep Christ in Christmas. Enjoy the fact that we have a Savior that was sent to us. And enjoy your time with those that you call family.


MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!