"When Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse!"
As many of you may know, I am typically looked at as kind of a Scrooge around the holiday times. Almost every Christmas for the past few years I've had work, I don't decorate around my house, and I talk about how I don't really get into the holidays. Trust me, that's a big charade. I put up a gruff exterior and act like I'm not really jolly at the holidays, but deep down I really enjoy them.
Take for example the Christmas decorations at COMMSTA. I decorated that Operations Deck for 5 years in a row. It started with me kicking and screaming the first year, and each additional year I could act all grumpy and begrudgingly put up all the decorations for the operations department, and decorate my office. People thought I was miserable while I was putting up and taking down all these decorations, but no no. Underneath I was enjoying every minute of it. I really enjoyed bringing a little Christmas cheer to those unfortunate people having to stand those 12 hour watches during the holidays. I liked seeing the look on their face when they saw that 8 foot tall inflatable Santa for the first time of the season as they entered the Operations Deck. Last year was the best, we spent so much money on gawdy flashy decorations, that that place looked like Santa's workshop exploded and there were Japanese ceisure robots attacking.
You know the incessant Christmas music that plays where ever you go? The same songs that have been played for the past few hundred years around this time. I love them. Every time I walk into a store and hear Christmas carols coming over the speakers, I get a smile on my face. What do when I get back into my car? I tune up whatever radio station is playing traditional Christmas carols and I sing my silly head off for the entire drive. Now that I have an iPod, it's filled with all my favorite Christmas tunes so I can keep my juvenile Christmas cheer going whenever I please.
People don't suspect this. People think I just see this as another day on the calendar, and the possible chance to get a few extra days off and drink some Evan Williams Eggnog (by the way, egg nog is my favorite part of the holidays). Well, the secret is out, I'm a big stupid Christmas nut that gets all cheery and goofy around the holidays.
On this same note as I blather on and on about my holiday silliness. I'd also like the mention something that I've been pondering for the past couple of weeks. These past couple of months have had their ups and downs for me. It's been a rollercoaster ride to say the least. But the past few days I've been monitoring a forum thread about "Random Acts of Awesomeness - Restoring Our Faith in Humanity for the Holidays", and it has really touched me. I don't usually get all insightful and say anything meaningful on this blog, but I felt like I should bring this up. Reading about some of these unreal acts of kindness and selflessness, and also just the small things that people do day to day to brighten the lives of others had some impact on me.
I'm not trying to toot my own horn here. But, I've always tried to be courteous and polite to people, and treat my fellowman with the respect that I'd like to be treated with myself. But these stories have inspired me to go a step further. One re-occurring trend was mentioning treating retail people with a little extra kindness. Strike up conversation with these people, be congenial, don't just swipe your card, grab your goods and run. They have a miserable but necessary job, treat them like human beings. This is one I've tried to take to heart. Many times over there were stories of helping those in an unfortunate situation. After reading these for the past week, it actually caused a spark in my brain when I saw someone in trouble, and I didn't hesitate to come to their aide. Here's the story as I posted it on the forum (it's late and I don't feel like typing it out twice):
"My story is kind of short and not that big a thing, but I directly attribute it to having read this over the past few days.
I was driving down the freeway last night after picking up Guitar Hero 2 and racing home to play it when I see a car on the side of the road with its hazards on. This is very common here in Hawaii so I didn't really think much of it, and usually I don't see anybody accompanying the vehicle.
As I get closer I notice someone sitting on the trunk holding a baby and waving, and the husband is also off to the side waving trying to get the attention of any of the cars speeding by. All of a sudden I remember this thread and shoot across three lanes to the shoulder and stop and back up to them.
Apparently they had been waiting there in the rain pretty late at night for nearly an hour and no one had even slowed down. They had blown a tire and in the process of changing the spare, the keys had managed to get locked in the trunk when a gust of wind blew it closed (talk about a run of bad luck). They just needed to use my cell phone to call a friend to bring them the spare keys. They made their call and said many thank yous and I was on my way. I got a call a few minutes later from the friend they'd called saying they'd made it home safely and received another thank you.
I just thought I'd share that this thread has certainly inspired me to help others when I get the chance. It made me feel great the rest of the night."
I try to keep my eye out for situations like these from now on. Everyone has a bad time and needs a helping hand, and it's even more surprising and welcome when it comes from a complete stranger. Me being the sappy holiday nut that I am, I also decided to sponsor a child on Christian's Children Fund. Some people find this as self serving and in some ways it is because it ends up making you feel good about yourself. But in the end you're helping a person in need, who cares if you get some enjoyment out of it.
As I mentioned before, these past few months have been interesting. Leaving my friends in Kodiak, starting a new job, losing about $18,000 by getting my car totalled and not having many options of recourse, making a patrol to the other side of the world on a boat I'd never been on before, getting a ridiculous medical scare, injuring my wrist, and preparing for another trip to South America. These things started to get to me. I was getting stressed out. But as I sat at the Starbucks tonight and thought over the last couple of months and what's happened, and pondered the stories I've been reading lately; I realized that I'm not doing that bad. I have a job that I love and find rewarding. I have a new car that I like more than the one I lost. I have an apartment, food, good friends (new and old). I have no reason to complain. There are people out there that are much less fortunate than I. I have no right to complain or feel depressed during the holidays. I should be greatful everyday for what I have and I should try to share it with others. So remember, next time you're feeling down and out and think you got a bum lot in life, it could be a heck of a lot worse. The difficult times are what make us stronger and influence our abilities and personalities. The hard times are the times you remember the most, not that you should dwell on them, but they help mold who you are.
Well, anyway, I've rambled on enough for this evening, and you all probably think I'm bordering on insanity at this point or someone has hijacked my login for this blog. But, in a long running tradition of mine. I bring you my own brand of Christmas cards that I create every year. This batch is especially strange.
PS. The quote in the topic is from one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. My mom and I started the tradition of watching this every year quite some time ago. I've never missed it since.
Comments
LMAO
Good read!
I started off thinking damnit... bah humbug, and wanting to shove a fruitcake up someone's arse. But after reading the damn thing it's gotten me to think a little differently of the holiday season. You know, maybe christmas isn't quite the eighth circle of hell.
Thank you.
Happy friggin holidays.
Posted by: psykotron | December 5, 2006 12:37 AM
I enjoyed, except the same old Christmas toons get to me. However, I always treat people with respect and try to talk to the no matter what time of the year or who they are.
P.S. I believe that was my hold high school coach throwing up and I'm not kidding. It looks alot like him and he did go to Fitchburg State which the kid in the background is wearing.
Posted by: RPS | December 6, 2006 06:11 PM