Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanza… However you celebrate the holidays, I wish you the happiest holiday with your family and friends!
I remember one holiday season, a very long time ago. I was driving out of the local mall’s parking lot on December 23rd. Yes, too late to worry about shopping. I have since learned my lesson and wouldn’t attempt the mall after the 22nd!
The traffic and crowds that day were a nightmare. I was in my car and trying to turn left out of the parking lot, and not one single car let me turn. 15 minutes went by. I should add that it was in New Jersey, where I also once got chased by a Hummer-driving, baseball-bat wielding housewife. I had made the “mistake” of beeping my car horn when the light turned green and I knew she didn’t see it turn. But she did move… to jump out and come running to my car with a baseball bat! But that’s another story for another time….
The mall on that December 23rd… or as my son calls it – “Christmas Eve Eve”, was a zoo. Not one person let me turn left. Then suddenly, a nice lady waved to me. “Go ahead” she mouthed to me. “THANK YOU”, I yelled. Completely shocked and happy that out of 500 cars, there was actually one kind person who decided to let me out of the parking lot, I proceeded to pull out.
SCREEECH!…………… Horns beeped, Cars whizzed by, Middle fingers raised. Okay, apparently, I shouldn’t merge into traffic on such a busy day. I was so flustered – one person let me out, then the next driver flipped me the bird. I was dumbfounded. Had they forgotten it’s the holidays? Good will to men, and all. I think they forgot.
So I rolled down my window and yelled, REALLY LOUDLY,
“It’s Christmas, for God’s sake, BE NICE TO EACH OTHER”!
Then I laughed. I realized it had gotten to me too. The stress, the holiday chaos. All of it. And the laughter was all I needed to be reminded there is so much more to the holidays than presents and stress.