F'k Christmas.

[Pat Conlon]

....if they have reasons for not sharing in those things that are special to me, I don't abuse them over it (unless I didn't like those people in the first place!).  I'm just always amazed, shocked, and a bit disgusted that so many people can't respect the wishes of those who dislike Christmas.

I hope you don't think that is the case here Andy. I enjoy your company. I don't mean to abuse or argue with you, I'm just relating my experiences.

I just happen to agree with Mike (JMR) and he sounds to me like he has painful firsthand knowledge about life with, and without, Xmas.
Here is what he PM'ed me:.
"Thank God we have at least one day a year where we have the opportunity to reflect and experience some joy. I went years without it and I can honestly say life is much better with it!..."

Yep, I agree with that.....

[andyb]

I feel sorry for anyone who only finds happiness and joy one day per year.

I find many times throughout the year that are happy.  Most of them are during riding season.. coincidence?   All I really want for Christmas is for it not to be Christmas for me.  That's all.  You don't have to eat my asparagus, but I don't want to eat yours, y`know?  If you refuse mine, I'm not going to spoon it into your mouth because "everybody likes it" and "you do too, admit it!"

[Pat Conlon]

I feel sorry for anyone who only finds happiness and joy one day per year.

Yep, me too, but the reality is many folks are having a bad, bad year. Our 2 local homeless shelters are full with families. 

Again, Xmas is for kids. Adults can get into the magic by reflecting, getting grateful, giving thanks and helping others.

Andy, you should see the looks on those kids faces when they open their presents. For a moment, just a moment, they believe that they are special.

[terryk]

Not wanting to be straying too far into this.

But on your statment - "All I really want for Christmas is for it not to be Christmas for me.  That's all."

It will always be Christmas for you too as you can not make Christmas disappear for you alone as it is everywhere around you.

For you this thing called Christmas is not a special time of the year for many legitimate reasons and the way you appear to deal with this is to opt out of Christmas as best as practical/possible.

You choose not to partipate in the event and I can understand that.

Not participating is how you create distance between you and Christmas due to the pain that you have associated with this time of the year due to your personal life experiences.

I do not think anyone has the right to tell you a thing about why or how you should choose to conduct yourself at Christmas.

It is a free country and while we sometimes buy into a belief that we can understand each other, there are limits.

And, while we mostly do try to live good lives, many of us at least. It is horse crap to think that Christmas changes a great deal of the defective behavior and conditions of the world we live in. But it is fun for some to buy into that illusion.

The interesting question is who is more real about Christmas. People who do not participate due to their own experiences and their own choice. Or, those who do participate and choose to put reality on hold and celibrate in their own way with their own kin.

Beats me.

[JMR]

I feel sorry for anyone who only finds happiness and joy one day per year.

I find many times throughout the year that are happy.  Most of them are during riding season.. coincidence?   All I really want for Christmas is for it not to be Christmas for me.  That's all.  You don't have to eat my asparagus, but I don't want to eat yours, y`know?  If you refuse mine, I'm not going to spoon it into your mouth because "everybody likes it" and "you do too, admit it!"

Me too Andy.....and my mother in law has lived with us for 15 years.

[Klavdy]