It's come, and gone...in the blink of an eye

             So much effort, expense, and planning, for what is basically a gift, and a meal. It's not even like the shops  are closed for more than one day. Is that what the panic is about? The shops being closed perhaps? In this period when we feel we should have constant access to new food stocks. Is that due to all the advertising, suggesting we could have this, or that, if we choose. I have a fear it might be..or else what is it all about. Why all this rushing about, and stocking up of food, of entertaining those we love. As if it were the last chance to do it..ever.

              I saw little evidence of anything religious today. Perhaps it was where I was, who I spent time with. All we saw were films, and tv shows. Now home again, I feel a little as if I was in a time warp. Not that it was bad, because it wasn't. It was a hell of a lot of effort for the family I was with too. They worked so hard to make it perfect for us all. Including a whole day of shopping for them yesterday, to get things at the right price. The food, the gifts, and then there was the extra food, and gifts we bought with us. Crazy...the whole thing is crazy.

               Every year, about this time,  I become dissulutioned with the whole thing. Every year, I say 'not next year, I'm not doing it next year'. Then, when it gets close, I think, how can I not. How can I not buy my loved ones a present, or get some special food to feed whoever we entertain. They will think  I don't care. But, I must back out of all this craziness. Not that it will be understood. Even if I can bring myself to do it. I don't want to hurt anyone. Pressure, we are all being pressured into it. By tradition, by habit, by expectations.

               I know the children get excited, I know many of the grownups are almost as excited, in my family anyway. They will think I am just getting old, and miserable, or mean, and hard. Yet I'm not. I simply hate this ritual. Like an ingrown toenail. We cannot cure it immediately, I know. But it's bloody annoying, surely, we must do something. So, I'm poking, and prodding, and trying not to make it worse, but can I cure it. Do I have the technology ? Ha ha. Maybe not.

              I did have a wonderful time seeing my family, spending the day with them. I did appreciate all the effort, and the expense undertaken. Can't we just scale it down somehow, get off the treadmill.

I can't help but feel we are all being coerced into it.

              OK, my smart readers out there...what's the answer?

              Let me have your thoughts, you ideas, and your opinion.

              It's the end of Christmas day.....

              How can we change next year, and should we?

              Or, is it only me.......