Holiday Doldrums

[Don Gaddis]

Does anyone else have the holiday blues?

I used to love Christmas. Not the religious aspect of it, as I'm not religious in the slightest, but I used to
love the tree and the exchanging of gifts, etc... But in recent years, I don't know, for some reason I just
don't get the same feeling from it anymore. Part of the reason maybe is that so many of my relatives
and friends are either married with kids or have two incomes... whereas I'm single, no kids, with just a little bit of
income trickling in. So for the last few years, the holidays have produced a strong sense of dread. I start
thinking, "Am I going to be able to afford gifts for everyone? Do I have time to see everyone? If I get
this present for so and so, then I have to also get that present for this other person," and so on.

Another part of the holiday blues... is when you're around so many other people who are married off or have
a significant other. It can really get you down. And I know it shouldn't matter, because married people can
be putting on a show/ pretending to be happy themselves... but it can just stink when you leave the holiday
party or get together on your lonesome, and you see other people walking off and holding hands/ laughing/
having a good time.

Anyway, I know it sounds like a bah-humbug, but I'm usually glad when the whole thing is over. I didn't even care
much about a tree this year. I would've been satisfied with a tree hologram, lol, or something similar. Personally,
I don't think age has much to do with it... from some of my friends, I keep hearing, "Christmas is for kids."
But when I hear that, I think really? I always thought that Christmas was for everyone... sure, someone may have
enjoyed Christmas more as a kid, but I really disagree that there is some sort of phantom age limit cut off
point. Like, "Ohhh, you're such and such age now, no more Christmas for you!"

And I know that this is turning into a lengthy post, but just a few more side notes:

Does anyone else hate it when you feel obligated to buy a gift for someone that you loathe? One of my friends...
man oh man, her little girl! She reminds me of Veruca Salt from Willy Wonka. Just not the most enjoyable kid
to be around. I really don't like the kid and would rather not give her anything, but I give her presents every
year, just to appease her mom/my friend. The kid gets so much stuff, that... I kind of feel like she doesn't
appreciate it? And it's not that I give crappy gifts, it's that the kid is so fickle. One year she didn't like what
I'd gotten her... the kid started wailing and crying, and was about to throw the gift against the wall before the mom
intervened and stopped her. I'll get her expensive things... like nice LEGO sets and whatnot of characters that
her mom says that the little girl likes, but I'll go over to their house... three or four months after Christmas...
and I'll see my gifts sitting around, unopened. Of course, the little girl can do what she wants with her gifts,
but it just kind of leaves a sour taste in my mouth, because I think- well, that was a present or $$$ that
could've gone toward someone else... someone else that I actually enjoy being around.

One last pet peeve: I don't know if anyone else has experienced this or not, but... I often experience this
as a single person... I have a friend who is married with a kid, and her brother also lives with her. We usually
try to get together at her house and exchange presents. I reallllyyy don't care for the husband or the kid (and yes,
this is the same Veruca Salt child that is described above), but I feel obligated to buy for each of them, because I can't
in my heart just bring over a present for my friend and her brother. So, it's like, I'm buying four presents to go four
different ways for them... but yet, my friend is the only one who gives me anything in return. I know it's not about
the getting, it's about the giving/ but at a certain point, I do wish that the other three people in the household would
be thoughtful/ think of me... even if it's just a card, instead of just always taking/ not giving anything back.

Alas, I've written a short story! I apologize! I'm an artist/writer and tend to be wordy.

[Davetello]

Yeah, I feel similarly about Xmas too. We've had two bereavements in the holiday period since 06, so I would rather do without it now. But I try and enthuse over it just for the sake of my little cousin. But yeah, overall I can't wait for it to be over.

Btw, Veruca Salt turned into a real MILF/GILF

[DarthRaphael]

It's a stressful time as a parent trying to get the things your children want to have a feeling of obligation laid on you to buy gifts for everyone. I think advertisers are nuts with what they think you should buy, how much you should spend, and the parties. It's just nuts. We get gifts for our kids, a gift for our parents, and four nieces or nephews. Beyond that is just unnecessary in my book.
I was raised Catholic so the utter commercialization and cleansing of anything religious about the holiday is really starting to bug me.

[snake]

I like Christmas, but I'm 13, so it really doesn't have a downside for me.

[Prowler]

I don't like Christmas either. Loved it as a kid but nowadays it's just boring and kinda depressing. Maybe I'll like it again if I ever get married and have kids someday.

[DarkFell]

I guess the only doldrum that I feel about Christmas is..when it's over. Yeah I said it. I can stand the carols on the radio, the over decorated houses that practically make you squint or put on sunglasses *and I've seen a few of them too!*, and since I have such a small family..the leftovers that might last a week in my fridge. But after the holidays and everyone turns off those lights and the radio stations are back to playing those oh-so-predictable playlists, I'm stuck with..."Okay..what now?"

So, I guess I'm a big kid at heart when it comes to Christmas. Halloween as well. I like both days despite the fact that they make big bucks at the stores.

And for those of you that dislike the holidays..well, maybe this might cheer you up.



What? Thought I was gonna call you all a bunch of Scrooges? Nope. Because there was / is one Ebenezer Scrooge.

And that was him.

[ZariusTwo]

Back in 2003 I got quite irritated at the folks for hogging the television all day watching vintage comedy like Morcambe and Wise.

Then in 2009 I remember coping with the first stages of my mental breakdown which would see me spend the summer of 2010 in hospital under psychological evaluation.

And then last year I made the mistake of getting into an online fight with someone on a forum and it put me in a funny mood for most of Christmas Day

Hope all goes well with no hiccups this year, although I'm already very critical of the amount of sheer dross being offered up on tv on the 25th. I guess that's why you get DVDs as gifts is'nt it?

[blindturtle02]

I got the holiday blues because mom's not coming down. My stepdad's back always chooses to act up right before she decides to travel so I haven't seen her in four years. Stepdad originally hurt his back by attempting to look like a bigshot and lift a friggin tractor btw. No kidding. I thought she was coming for like a month and I find out last Thursday that she can't. I'm not at all pissed with her. I'm a bit frustrated with stepdad because his doctor is actually telling him that the chronic pain he feels might in fact be in his head. Some of it, anyway. See, he can go down to Ar and see his kids and he feels fine then. She says she would just up and leave his ass for a few days but the pain meds he's on make him loopy enough to leave the stove on or any number of things. I'm saving up some cash so my better half and I can eventually go to TN. I'd love for mom and the rest of my family to get to know her. Hopefully I'll have enough by Summer.

[DarkFell]

Originally Posted by blindturtle02

I got the holiday blues because mom's not coming down. My stepdad's back always chooses to act up right before she decides to travel so I haven't seen her in four years. I thought she was coming for like a month and I find out last Thursday that she can't. I'm not at all pissed with her. I'm a bit frustrated with stepdad because his doctor is actually telling him that the chronic pain he feels might in fact be in his head. Some of it, anyway. See, he can go down to Ar and see his kids and he feels fine then. She says she would just up and leave his ass for a few days but the pain meds he's on make him loopy enough to leave the stove on or any number of things. I'm saving up some cash so my better half and I can eventually go to TN. I'd love for mom and the rest of my family to get to know her. Hopefully I'll have enough by Summer.

Sorry about the parent situation man. I hope you two can go see them way sooner than the summertime.

[pennydreadful]

I also get the holiday blues - I try to ignore the whole Xmas thing as much as possible. I could rant more about how much I loathe it, but I know some people actually have fun with it and I don't want to be a grouch.

[BubblyShell22]

I pretty much despise most holidays now, especially Christmas and Easter. All comes with not believing and not caring about the religious stuff and the fact that we don't have family gatherings anymore. Grandpa can't come because of his illness, so it's hard for us to see them and since my grandparents on my dad's side have died, we just don't do anything anymore. So, I hear you about the holiday blues, DG. I'll be glad when the whole thing is over.

[Metalwolf]

Originally Posted by Don Gaddis

Alas, I've written a short story! I apologize! I'm an artist/writer and tend to be wordy.

Don't worry about writing a story, I do that a lot too because I'm an artist and sort of a writer. It comes with the territory.

As for getting people things, just tell folks you can't afford to get folks anything this year because you don't have enough money. Unless they're jerks, they aren't going to rag on you about it, because then it makes them look greedy and selfish. I did that a long time ago- decided not to get anyone anything save for my parents. It makes Christmas far less stressful, because I set a personal limit of two people and I stick with it. I don't feel guilty and I stay free of debt.

As for the little girl, I would just not get her anything. It's very clear that she's spoiled, and just getting her things that she isn't going to appreciate anyway just makes Christmas feel more like an ordeal then it should. If you still want to *get* her something anyway, but not actually give her something that will sit around, why not just donate a small sum to a charity in her name, and tell the parents you did it all in the spirit of Christmas? That way you got something for her in a sense (so the parents can't complain or they'll look like jerks) but you didn't get her something that would sit around unused and unopened, and feel like it was wasted. Know what I mean?

[Cure]

Nah, man, the holidays are awesome.

[Jester]

I like the get-togethers with my extended family and I'm sure once Trey's a little older his Christmas spirit will rub off....but yeah I'm a little bit of a Scrooge....especially when the bank balance drops and there are still people that we have to get things for, as well as other necessities.

[blindturtle02]

Originally Posted by DarkFell

Sorry about the parent situation man. I hope you two can go see them way sooner than the summertime.

Hey thanks, Fell. Yeah, hoping to at least get there around our Spring Break.

And Jester, I know what ya mean about the money situation. lol I seriously doubt you're a scrooge though.

[IndigoErth]

Not really any doldrums. More like meh-drums.

People die, things change, finances are tight and I can't do/get people all that I wish I could... I enjoy Christmas day and whatnot with my immediate family, but the holidays just aren't what they used to be.

[Gunpowder]

I'm not exactly in your situation, as I'm not quite at that stage of life where my friends are all marrying and having kids...but I can imagine myself being in the same boat as you in 5 years or so.

Christmas has basically already lost most of its magic for me. Was never about getting presents; it was always about seeing people I only see once a year. Now that that isn't happening anymore, I pretty much only look forward to it as a break from school. And, being on a stingy college budget as I am, buying presents isn't something I'm really open to...not this year, anyway.

[Peanut]

Nope. I'm way too busy during the season to feel bummed ever. So much family stuff.

[TheCanadiandrome]

well lets just say after the week i've had, BAH FREAKIN HUMBUG! I can't wait til it's here and done

[Don Gaddis]

Thanks for the replies thus far everyone @ The Canadiandrome, *high five!* Ha ha!
I empathize.

@ DarkFell, *laughing, those videos are great! They made me feel a little better. It was
cathartic as well, just to be able to share some grievances about the holiday season.

Metalwolf... nice to meet a fellow artist, and thanks also for the suggestions. For a while,
I was hoping that lil' Ms. Veruca Salt would naturally grow out of the selfish behavior... but
unfortunately at this juncture (she's about to enter into her teens) I have a feeling that it's
just going to get worse. *Sigh* We'll see. Yeah, I've pretty much reached the point where
I feel like there is no pleasing her, no matter what present she gets.

For those that have lost loved ones around the holidays, and for those who will miss out on
seeing that special person: *BIG hug* It's so hard to get through the holidays when something
like that happens. My grandmother passed away a little over three years ago, and Christmas
hasn't really been the same since. Her birthday was near Christmas– today in fact– so it
just makes it that much harder to cope. I try to keep in mind that she wouldn't want her loved
ones to feel depressed... but again, it's difficult. It set the stage for certain relatives not to
make an appearance anymore at Christmas... everyone just scattered to the wind.

To end on a humorous note, a few years ago, I drank Bloody Marys all day long on Christmas.
All else failed to give me that warm and fuzzy feeling, so I took matters into my own hands.
I was feeling no pain! Maybe I should make it a new tradition for myself... whatever gets me
through

Charlie brown sums it up pretty nicely, by the way:

http://youtu.be/8DKh0bQsE60