Solstice Shopping

The season has come upon us.  Wife and I sort of push back a little against the celebration of the season.
I am very much a sentimental old softy about Christmas.  I push back a little in the area of pressure and deadlines.  I know that the stores set up xmas products before Halloween,  so when I saw that happen I was ready for it.  Not shocked.  But "holiday creep" happened again this year.  "Black Friday"  is now known by all,  but has been expanded to the evening of Thanksgiving.  So now while you are actually, virtually, celebrating Thanksgiving,  you are indeed Christmas shopping.  But that's not all.  "Cyber Monday" has now become "Cyber Week".  In keeping the pressure off,  I have never participated in these shopping holidays.  I don't care how many shopping days are left before Xmas.  And I usually shop on Christmas day.   There is a little liquor store near me that is open on Christmas.  And wines and spirits make great gifts.   During the season I usually get myself a few gifts while I am at it.  It turns out I'm really good at buying myself stuff.   Actually I get that kind of shopping done early.  As far as stuff for me,  my xmas shopping is done already!  I feel good about that.  I can check it off.    We packed up a box of stuff for our son.  He lives in California.  We bought him stuff from Target,  Radio Shack,  WalMart, Walgrens.  It's in the mail now.  A few years back I bought a really nice artificial xmas tree.  It was high end price wise and I bought it after xmas for pennies on the dollar.  It has never been opened and I won't be setting it up this year.

I usually have a favorite Christmas Carol every year.  I think this year it will be "Run Run Rudolph".
This song was by Chuck Berry and was featured in the movie "Home Alone" from 1990.
The song was circa 1958.  I noticed something about the lyrics.  The author refers to two Korean War era aircraft.  The "Saber Jet"  (which was the F86)  and the "Shooting Star" (which was the F-80).




There's a new Christmas carol out this year. I saw it on the internet. I don't expect it will catch on.

It's a song defending Christmas from those who would dare  to celebrate a different winter holiday,  or none at all.  The lyrics tell the listener if they see a "happy holiday" sign in a store window,  they should walk by the store and not enter.  If they are in a store and are greeted with "seasons greetings",  they should walk out of the store.  The listener is told there is only one winter holiday.  The birth of J. Christ.

I know that fundamental Christians don't like people asking them to adjust their Christmas celebrations in public.  They are happy and proud about their religion and their holiday.  And rightly so.  Are they truly happy with good will toward men if they believe that the winter season can only be celebrated in terms of their  god?  By not acknowledging the phrase "seasons greetings" and being put off by it,  it seems to me the fundamentalist is showing fear and insecurity at a time when everyone is just trying to have a nice holiday season.  The winter solstice is the longest night of the year.  Everyone on our planet can enjoy the knowledge and feeling of the promise of spring.  So let's celebrate.  Why play "my god's better than yours" when we're all just trying to light up the long winter's night.   Christians have to be constantly reminded that they don't own history,  and they don't own the seasons.

To all my friends:  Baptists,  Hindus,  Druids, Atheists.  Happy Holidays .

LLITTY       :::::+:::::