It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...oh Shut Up!

Three renditions of “Frosty the Snowman” and two stations simultaneously playing the Beatles “Wonderful X-mas time” (or whatever that song is called) on the way into work this morning?  Really?!  It’s the middle of November and not even Thanksgiving yet – let alone Christmas.  I’m already bracing myself for what’s to come at work.  Honestly I’ve never worked at a place so “into” the holidays than where I am at now.  At other places of employment, around this time you would see a handful of people wearing some green and red.  There would be a truck on the way out to the parking lot to pick up your free X-mas turkey from the company if you wanted it.  Little stuff like that.  The place I work now goes all out.  Decorated tree in the lobby, lights, Christmas nick-knacks everywhere, checks or giftcards for Thanksgiving AND Christmas, gift exchanges within departments, and even “wear your ugly Christmas sweater” day.  For someone who doesn’t celebrate holidays, it can get pretty overwhelming.  Sometimes it can be difficult to watch the gift exchanges and people tearing open the company envelope with their name attached to a check; but it comes with the territory.  I know why I’m not involved and I’m happy with my position.  The most annoying part about the whole thing is the never-ending string of songs that play on the radio.  It’s the thing I’m most not looking forward to.  Even if I did celebrate Christmas, it would drive me insane.  At about the 26^th time in a day I hear “Jingle Bells” or “It’s beginning to look a lot like X-mas”, I’m about ready to tear my hair out – oh…that’s right – I don’t have any.  Well, you get the picture.  In any case, I anticipate many days these next couple months with my headphones on.

One bonus about not celebrating Christmas is that we aren’t broke at the end of the year from buying presents for people we don’t like.  Generally we are usually just broke the entire year.  But, I have been saving to get a remote car starter in my van.  No more cold car in the morning or icy windows after work.  Granted, I’m sure there will be very few times I actually get to take it to work since the van stays with my daughter and her wheelchair.  At least she will be warm and cozy even if she’s not old enough to truly appreciate the distance at which the car can be started.