des the grinch

Yesterday while flipping through the xmas books that are on display at the store, a memory hit me. It wasn't a memory of a specific event, but of a specific feeling.

To sum it up, I dislike xmas.

Looking at some kids' book about sheep made me annoyed and exasperated at the same time. Sure I love seeing my family and giving (and getting) presents, but I hate traveling, I hate xmas shopping, I hate the general expectations of everyone. I hate that xmases are different from when I was a kid, though I didn't really like them then either. I liked waking up early and seeing the tree and lights and presents, but I didn't like having to wait for everyone else to wake up. Once the presents are open, the rest of the day is boring and stressful. There's nothing good on tv, and you spend your day in preparation to either go somewhere or wait for other people to come to you. You can't eat on a normal schedule because there is a big meal planned. Everything is closed so you can't leave the house. It's cold outside anyway.

Not to mention that I'm not at all religious and it is a religious holiday.

Plus I've had some bad xmases. Sure there was the time I rocked the Vanilla Ice cassette, but there was also the time I had bronchitis and strep throat at the same time and had to be put in quarantine because my SIL was pregnant. The local doctors said they didn't take my insurance, which was a complete and utter lie. (Luckily the best doctor ever, the fabulous Dr. K, came through for me.)
Then there was last year when I tried to fly home and I only had 3 days because the company I worked for would collapse without me and it was the most hellish trip ever: in addition to the bitchy people in Newark, the flights got delayed, so I missed a connecting flight and the airline wouldn't help me out so I had to rent a car and drive for 6 hours. All on xmas eve. Then I had to turn around and do it again in less than 48 hours.

This year I will have to deal with some things that I don't want to talk about, and I even less want to experience. Again it will be nice to see my family, but not under the circumstances. And I don't get to see my inlaws because that would require a lot more travel because CA such a damn big state. C and I aren't even traveling together, so I will be alone for a while.

I say it right now: I'm not a fan of xmas. I like Halloween and my bday. Halloween just passed. My bday is June 14 (Flag Day) so I still have 7 months.

Bah humbug.