I Can’t Complain, by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise | @MDWorld

December 14, 2013 Martha Thomases 1 Comment

This is, maybe, my least favorite time of year.  I hate the crowded sidewalks, filled with amateurs who don’t know how to walk and talk at the same time.  I hate the incessant advertising for holiday gifts, which to my mind cheapens the celebrations of any actual holidays.  I hate people who complain when you call them “holidays” and not “Christmas,” as if no one but Christians can mark the winter solstice.  And I hate the winter solstice.

But mostly, I hate how much I complain about the things I hate.  It makes me feel like a kill joy, a party pooper, a whiner, and then I want to complain about that.  It’s a vicious circle, so I’m going to try to parse out a way to a new attitude.

• For example, those tourists?  They’re annoying, but they save me money.  It is estimated that with nearly 55 million tourists buying souvenirs, eating in restaurants, staying in hotels and such, my taxes are $1500 lower than they would be without the clumsy hayseeds.

Also, because most of the tourists are from other parts of the United States, they make me feel thinner.

•  The relentless hope and joy of Christmas music, coming at a person from every possible direction, makes this Jew feel alone and misunderstood.  But you know what?  With a little bit of searching, I found amazing Hanukkah music by one of my favorite socialists.  It’s happy and makes me feel nostalgic for those warm, happy times in the shtetel that I never actually experienced.

Apparently, Jews aren’t the only ones who feel alienated by Christmas.  The brilliant Nick Lowe has a brilliant new holiday album that is wistful and sweet and entirely relatable.

•  I hate the dark days and the long nights.  However, once Christmas is over,the days start getting longer.  I can look at the buds on the trees as they plump up, getting ready to bloom.

•  I hate hate HATE traveling over the holidays.  The airports are crowded and full of people who don’t know how to behave in groups.  Bad weather can turn everyone’s plans to mush.  So this year, when I may have to travel over the holidays (and make plans at the last minute), I’m initially grumpy.

But you know what?  I’m traveling because one of my very best friends is getting married.  After a few years of mostly seeing people at sad events, this time I’m going to celebrate someone’s happiness.

Happy holidays, folks.  It’s almost over!

Martha Thomases, Media Goddess, got excellent Hanukkah presents this year.