Christmas is almost here

Christmas has been celebrated on Dec. 25 since the fourth century and yet it always seems to sneak up on us.

I have heard people say, and have even uttered the statement myself, “Boy, Christmas is coming awfully fast this year!” That is a sentiment of adults trying to balance time and money to be ready for the big day. Both always seem to run out way too soon.

For children, on the other hand, the time until Christmas actually gets here is way too slow. Oh how I miss that childhood anticipation when everyday before Christmas seemed a million hours long. I, for one, could certainly use a few more hours in each day to get done everything that needs to be done.

I blame the illusion of fast time for adults and slow time for children on the commercialization of Christmas.

Considering that big box stores will have Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas displays in mid-October, is it any wonder children think it is taking forever to get here?

And, let’s not forget that television commercials promoting the best deal for the season now start in early November.

While I’m on the subject of television commercials, let me just say that I am a big fan of Christmas music, but hearing so many of my favorites rewritten and corrupted to sell everything from cars to video games really rubs me the wrong way. It should be against the law to rewrite “God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen” to sell reclining chairs. Sorry to stray off topic, but sometimes a gal just has to vent.

Now, back to the subject at hand, which is how rapidly or slowly Christmas is coming. For me, it is going a bit too fast. Every time someone asks me, “Gotcha your shopping done yet?” I cringe. I do not have my shopping done yet and have few clues on what to get for some family members.

This is my own fault because get a bit too caught up in the perfect gift syndrome. Though it is nice to buy gifts that you know the recipient will enjoy or perhaps even need, I spend way too much time second-guessing what that gift should be rather than shopping for it.

Then I have two 14-year-old grandsons and one 11-year-old. I sure do miss when these precious boys were precious toddlers and I could fulfill their every wish on a pretty small budget. Now their wishes revolve around some pretty big-ticket items.

I know my grandsons as well as everyone else on my shopping list will be happy with whatever gifts I give them. I’ve been anguishing over what to get them since early November when the television commercials started pushing electronics and video games.

Allow me another little bit of venting on that subject please. There is something very wrong when I see a commercial pushing the latest violent video game with “Jingle Bells” playing in the background. I guess I should be glad it wasn’t “Silent Night.”

There really is not great reason for me to stress out about anything. I love Christmas and I just need to relax, do the best I can and enjoy the season.

The way I see it, if I really need to vent there will be plenty of misuses of my favorite Christmas music to focus on.

May your Christmas be wonderful, your stress level low and your joys abundant. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

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