Walking to work requires me to go across the Wally-World parking lot (as i have often mentioned in the past). Today being the last big shopping day of the holiday, the parking lot was nearly full to capacity. Being one of those 'fortunate' few who don't have to worry about the hustle of the holidays (single, unattached, family 100 miles away, workaholic, and yes i do work tomorrow), i feel like the proverbial scientist watching a rat run thru a maze.
We are taught at an early age that the 'spirit of Christmas' is about the giving of ourselves to others, however it is never mentioned that the 'spirit' comes with a price tag, with no batteries, and a mortgage payment to pay it off. The holidays have placed too much stress on people worrying about whether the gift they bought is 'good enough' for Little Jimmy, or if Aunt Mary will send her 'world famous' fruitcake via UPS again, and if so, if UPS will send a bill for 'equipment damage' due to said fruitcake. The women will be exhausted due to the planning, cleaning, and cooking in preparation for the day when the family comes together, trying to make everything 'perfect', even making contingency plans for cousin Burt, who is notorious for showing up already toasted, and spilling drinks on the floor because of it. The men will be busy setting up the Christmas tree, the lights around the house, and cleaning out the sock drawer and closet in preparation for the gifts they already know they are receiving.
How can there be 'Peace on Earth' and 'Good Will Toward Men' when, at the start of the season, we're fighting with other shoppers over an item priced 50 percent off at 6am, and at the end we have a serious case of 'shopping cart rage' working?
Well, i'll be leaving here soon, and yes, i'll be walking across the Wally-World parking lot again, only this time, if i remember correctly, it will be silent and empty, save for a few cars pulling in hoping that the store is still open so they can get the absolute last chance for a gift. They'll be disappointed, and will have no choice but to buy some lip balm at the neighborhood Seven-Eleven. And maybe a ten dollar bottle of aspirin.
Have a happy Holiday season, whatever your religious background.

(NOTE: The examples i cited in this post do not reflect what my family is like. They came to me at the top of my head, so any resemblance of anyone real is purely coincidental. And if they are real, i feel sorry for the family involved.)

Hell has frozen: McDonita's (what i call McDonald's since the local franchise is owned, operated, and employed by 70 percent Hispanics, 45 percent of them non-English speaking) now accepts credit/debit cards.