Boycotting What Is Called Christmas

I am seriously boycotting all things Christmas this year.

I haven't celebrated the holiday since my daughter grew up and moved out. For a while after that I would set up a tree and decorate the house. I even sent out cards. But no more. The past few years I didn't do any of those things, but I did continue my tradition of holiday baking. I didn't even do that last year.

I have a collection of 40 to 50 Christmas CDs that I enjoy, but listening to them is my only acknowledgement of Christmas. I traditionally make extra donations to a few of my favorite charities during the holiday season.

That's it. I don't watch Christmas movies, and I never have. Hallmark Channel continues its sappy tradition of airing Christmas movies starting in July. A local FM radio station starts playing holiday tunes in October. Christmas commercials start in October, and local stores start putting up their holiday displays in August! And this all happened before the pandemic created hardships for businesses. The push to spend, spend, spend is worse than ever this year.

I am old-school. I remember the times when Thanksgiving was a real holiday and not just a precursor to Christmas. Retail employees were not required to work on Thanksgiving Day or evening. Then Black Friday with all its madness came along. People started lining up hours before stores opened so they could snag those 'must-have' items. Fist fights broke out, and  people were trampled, stabbed and shot as part of the season of peace and love.

I can't. I simply cannot be part of this usurping of a religious holiday. Every year thieves break into storage units where holiday toys are stored for distribution to underprivileged children. Both the Salvation Army and the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots programs have been impacted by thieves. How low must one go to steal from little children?

I may bake some cookies (although my waistline doesn't need cookies), and I will probably listen to some Christmas music this year. I will donate again to the local food bank and to a couple of animal charities, as well as to the hospice that cared for my father at the end of his life.

There will be no Christmas cards. No special meal on December 25. No decorations. Nothing. 

Once again American greed has stripped a religious holiday of its meaning and turned it into a season of avarice. Well done.

Today There Is No Storm

Each of us faces a variety of storms as we go through life. Most of the storms are not the thunder, lightning, wind and rain kind of storm. Our storms are emotional or psychological, often stress-related. But regardless of what kind of storm we face, I think it is important to remember the words of a child comforting a classmate who was fearful of storms. "Today there is no storm."

Wise words from a young girl. I will try to remember these words the next time I am upset or frustrated or angry. Today there is no storm. And even if there is a storm, eventually the sun will shine again. This doesn't mean, of course, that we won't face difficulties in the course of our lives. But for most of us, the storms will pass.

I tried to remember these five words recently when I was getting angry about something. I admit, I failed. I remembered the words, but I failed at remaining calm. Practice. Practice. Practice. Today there is no storm.

I know that I am fortunate to have a very comfortable standard of living. I have a good education. I had a rewarding career (actually, two careers). I grew up in a loving, two-parent family. I have never lacked sufficient food or a safe place to live. So I know that I have led a life of privilege. 

Nonetheless, I, like everyone else, has faced storms. I am sure that I will face more storms in my future. I often deal with my personal storms on my own, without burdening others with the storm. But I can’t let the storms define me. I won’t let the storms limit my ability to enjoy my life.

As with other things in life, how I respond is up to me. How I react, what I do and what I say, are up to me alone. 

I simply must remember that today there is no storm.

What If

 What if ...

... I totally disconnected from social media? I have been steadily reducing my social media presence for a while. I haven't used my Twitter and Instagram accounts for years. I deleted my photo sharing account on one page. And I spend less and less time on Facebook every week. Do I miss these things? No, I don't.

... I canceled my satellite television subscription? Of the 150+ channels that are allegedly part of my programming package, I probably watch 10 or fewer on a regular basis. Many of the 'channels' are nothing more than infomercials. And I pay roughly $100 each month for this.

... I stopped watching the news all together? I have always prided myself on being up to date on world events, and perhaps I will continue to listen to BBC News. But US news is too depressing. I don't want to hear about the number of covid cases, the ever-growing list of shortages of everything from cereal to lumber, and I'm tired of hearing about the tens of thousands of people swarming our southern border and demanding entry into the US. I'm also tired of the obstructionist policies of the Rethuglican party and its never-ending attempts to destroy our democracy.

... one day soon I failed to get dressed and instead stayed in my comfy pajamas, wrapped up in my warm bathrobe, didn't take the dogs for their daily walk, and just stayed home? I could spend the day reading, watching Netflix, and drinking hot tea.

... I spent more time focused on my photography and improving my knowledge of a foreign language?

I won't make any drastic changes immediately, but thinking about the 'what ifs' certainly raises interesting possibilities.

Feeling Every Year

Today, and this entire week, I am feeling every year of my existence.

My left knee has been hurting as I try to sleep. My left shoulder aches for reasons unknown. My left wrist, which I broke and on which I had surgery in Kenya a few years ago, has been acting up from time to time. Fingers on my left hand are very achy with arthritis. That's curious, because I am right-handed. My left ankle, which I twisted a few weeks ago, still hurts. And my left heel is still aching from plantar fasciitis.

So in short, the left side of my body is falling apart. 

As a runner of some 33 years, pain in a knee isn't unexpected. And really, my knees are in remarkably good shape. I can still walk and hike with no problems. An orthopedic surgeon warned me to expect to develop arthritis in the broken wrist. I have had plantar fasciitis a couple of times in the distant past, although I don't remember which foot was involved. But the shoulder pain is something new.

I take Tylenol for the pain, and it does help. The shoulder and heel are most problematic. I'm not one to sit around all day, although I do read a great deal on my Kindle. But taking time off from walking for exercise so far is not in my plans.

I have an appointment with my primary care physician in a couple of weeks, and I will raise these issues with her. 

More than the pain, which is controlled by Tylenol, is the everyday reminder than I am an old lady. But all things considered, I can't really complain. Aches and pains are part of being older. Over all, I am in pretty good health. My heart is strong, my blood pressure is good, and I still exercise every day. Unlike so many of the people I see at my ophthalmologist's office, I don't require supplemental oxygen. I don't need to use a cane or a walker or a wheelchair.

So all things considered, my life is pretty good. I'm still able to travel. I still enjoy photography and reading and learning.

I just need to remember to put it all in perspective, and consider how very lucky I am to be as healthy and as active as I am.

And the Pandemic Drags On

By now, nearly 2 years into this endless pandemic, we are all, well, maybe not the idiotic subset of Americans who refuse  to except that this pandemic is serious, well aware of the impact the coronavirus has had on our society. 

But in addition to the hundreds of thousands of American lives lost, and the untold number of Americans whose lives have been forever changed by this virus, there are many other negative aspects caused by the pandemic.

Here are just a few of the things that are in short supply these days.

Truck drivers

Nurses

Doctors

Hourly workers

Paper 

Aluminum 

Pumpkins

Gasoline 

Lumber 

Coffee

Tacos

Cars

Computer chips

School supplies 

Tennis balls

Various foods

Auto parts

Appliances

Furniture 

Some medications

Toys

Consumer electronics 

Turkey

Chicken

Garlic

Solar panels

Air conditioners

Propane

Natural gas

Housing

Common sense

Kindness

That's quite a diverse list, isn't it? Many of these items are manufactured or produced in China, which has been hit very hard by the pandemic. Worker shortages can be attributed to retirements during the pandemic, fear of returning to work while the pandemic still poses a threat, and demands for higher wages.

There is a great shortage of truck drivers, critical to the delivery of 70 percent of the supplies needed in America, and of nurses. Even animal shelters and veterinary clinics are begging for workers. A major shortage of workers to unload giant cargo ships bringing all kinds of goods from foreign countries to the United States is causing huge delays in getting the goods unloaded and distributed to businesses and individuals.

What is not in short supply is ignorance, selfishness, fear and conspiracy theories. 

How sad that a minority of Americans is still able to hold hostage the majority of people who are doing, and have done, the right thing. Those of us who stayed home, got vaccinated and maintained an appropriate distance from others are held captive by the minority too ignorant or devoted to their cult to take a few simple steps that would benefit everyone.

I am saddened and embarrassed by my countrymen/women. And I don't expect things to improve any time soon.