before the orgy of greed ensues

sho•po•ca•lypse [shah PAW kuh lips] n. the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt!

i'm not anti-christmas. i'm against the way we celebrate the holiday in america by going broke. and every year i become less and less interested in the spending spree. no matter how many holly jolly christmas carols i hear or how much egg nog i guzzle, i just can't accept it. i'm already broke! and for personal reasons no year have i felt the pressure of having to buy more than this year. with a giant sense of inadequacy i look at my hand embellished cards on the table next to coupons for my time based gifts of baby sitting and window washing. i feel that i ought to have more to give and that no amount of time spent in the throes of creativity and thoughtfulness will replace the flat screen or the coach purse.

i wonder when it stopped being fun for me and started being the source of guilt with a sidecar of disgust. when did the songs start sounding so cliche and who let jessica simpson sing christmas carols? why can't i just enjoy the rum balls and turkey instead of longing for a locally sourced, organic salad? how come i'm not comfortable measuring love in ounces of perfume? am i the only one that thinks that jesus, mary and joseph look ridiculous as illuminated piece of plastic? love doesn't smell like clinique happy and baby jesus isn't a christmas ornament that looks like a larvae. i don't buy any of it, literally or figuratively.

let it be known that my christmas wish is for it to be over yesterday because my reasoning abilities and conscience are that of a hippie. enjoy the time you have with your family, recycle the wrapping paper that you tear off your mountain of gifts, and try to give something to someone in need in the next few days. or continue to celebrate the holiday like sheeple. whatever jingles your bells.