Hard-Candy Christmas
Skipper, we must have been morons by today’s standards, because we thought the boxes were often more fun than the toy. My father says I took the wheels off the toy car and installed them on the box and a car became a truck to carry sand in the sandbox; and a large appliance box scrounged from a neighbor’s trash was a treasure which first became a fort or a house, then gave its life sliding down the dirt pile at a nearby vacant lot. Even after it fell apart, we’d slide on the pieces until there wasn’t a piece big enough to sit on.
Bah humbug indeed. I find it very hard not to be bah humbug at Christmas. I love Christmas for the very meaning of it, but despise what it has become. I have no problem giving a few gifts to family members, those who need a hand up, or a few friends who mean much to me. It irritates me to see Christmas displays before Thansgiving. It maddens me to see people kill their bank account to buy tons of useless things for people who don’t really need or want them, including their children. I guess my wife is right. I am quite old fashioned and was born about 100 years too late.
You grumpy old men are making Tiny Tim cry. For shame!
I remember Christmas of ‘56 too. That was the year my younger brother and I got our first (and only) bicycles. Our older brother was a senior in high school, and was working part time at the local soda fountain/drug store. He had to have saved for 6 months or more for those two JC Whitneys! Almost 50 years later, I still remember like it was last year. 
I am not a bit religious, but am a Christian, and I think secular XMas sucks.
C.S. Lewis agreed—he wanted to set the dogs on the kids that came-a-caroling. He suspected they were the same ones that made loud noise and woke up his sick wife—who they were aware of.
The Ex-Muss decorations appeared in WalMart early in October. Next, I’ll have to suffer thru “Little Drummer Catamite” http://www.gayhistory.com/rev2/words/catamite.htm (I always keep the GayHistory website handy)
Important mental health tip: At no time are you obliged to feel jolly—Never !
Posted by Oink
10/12/2005 at 03:59 PM
You’re all right on target......it’s been 9 or 10 days since I saw Christmas crap in the stores already.
1956, for me it was probably a sheriff’s badge and a cap gun. There were damn few toys and no luxuries in our family.....in fact if I hadn’t been born a boy.....I wouldn’t have had anything to play with.
Posted by piccalo
10/12/2005 at 05:24 PM
BobF—Right. I get irritated at obsessive, bankrupting gift giving. Also irritating is the “Oh there’s nothing I need” syndrome. (Like we’re gonna let you sit there and be the only one not to get anything....) I’m lucky to have a 4 y/o grandson this Christmas.
HEY SKIPPER! Why don’t we have a “Christmas Letter” parody contest this year? “NOOZ FROM THE B-MEWS” (Family"). All the nifty thing The Skipper and The Kids did this year. The usual bullshit…
Posted by Oink
10/12/2005 at 07:52 PM
Actually, the Xmas Crap on display at the $tore$ is for X-Christmas 2006. They’re actually 14 months early. It’s OK to blatantly commercialize JC’s “birthday” just don’t dare to put up a nativity display in a public place, else the ACLU (Anti-Christian Liberals’ Union)and their Kool-Aid drinking loyalista followers will
you…
BAG HUMBUG. Scrooge Rocks
Christmas items are already in the stores here in St. Louis also..........and it isn’t even Halloween yet..............My family get items I print out on my computer - notecards, current pictures and magnets from my most recent trip ( yes, Stin, you’ll eventually get yours -OCM -you would get some too if you send me your address, you too Oink if you want!)...........My biggest purchases are for my grandaughter - I am trying to find a crane (yes, a Tonka crane! ) for her - there is a lot of building going on here in St. Louis & she is fascinated by the huge cranes - Yes, a little girl can get a crane to play with in the sand box with the little boys next door!!!! Yours truly was a tomboy when she was a youngster & there’s no reason Helena can’t be one too!!
Posted by Dottie
10/13/2005 at 08:55 PM
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Dot: Your Tonka Mighty Crane—Amazon $24.99.(+S&H)
You turned out to be heterosexual, so she probably will too. 
Posted by Oink
10/13/2005 at 09:21 PM
I always got a kick out of the little ones at Christmas. I loved shopping the Fisher Price aisle.
Damn kids grow up though.
It takes away so much of the enjoyment. [mutter, grouse, bitch, moan, grumble]
