Dr. Dog

Did you know that there was a miracle on 34th street?? Or that it is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year?? Oh. You did? Okay. Just checking.

Every single thing about this holiday emits a sense that unless you are in the holiday spirit, you are a scrooge. Scrooge. Thank goodness this is the only time of year that if you are a little less than chipper, people can use the expression that you, are indeed, a scrooge or a grinch for that matter. Nothing I haven't heard people.

For as long as I can remember I loved celebrating Thanksgiving with my family. It's an enjoyable holiday to me filled with food and good times. While, I'm sure when I was little I loved Christmas, that changed slowly as I got older, and it keeps changing. 

I will just say it...I am not a fan of Christmas. Take a moment. Take it in. Breathe. Okay keep reading.

The food (for my Italian family); the shopping; the expectations. I never really feel in the Christmas spirit. But I don't think this defines me or any one else that just isn't in the spirit. 

Expectations at this holiday. There are many. First one is being in a certain place at a certain time. Next the gifts you give, as maybe opposed to the gifts of others, be it cost, creativity, size, etc. Next: Church. I don't go to church all year long, why on this one day am I going to go because it's expected...yes I'm aware that we are celebrating Christ's birth, but supposedly he was actually born in the summer, and is this really the way he wants us celebrating? Being a glutton and spending excessively when there are countries that can't afford food on a daily basis? Again. Just a thought. 

With my 27th Christmas upon me, I think it's okay to not be in the Christmas spirit. So if you aren't, go with it. Just be. If you want to treat it as just another day, embrace it! If you love the family time, hate the food, go with it! If you love the food, hate the family time, make it short! Christmas should be whatever you want it to be. And if you aren't in the Christmas spirit, have a glass of wine and a rum ball, and keep rolling with the punches and know that it's okay to not have an emotion that is expected of you.

Just a girl, looking for her Christmas spirit, while knowing that sitting in an exit line at the mall is not it, and finding her way back the love for the holiday.