Bah Humbug

[Guest mustangdave]

This would be a better holiday if one of my edicts was followed.

"Everyone should have to work retail at least one Christmas."

Did that...and better...I worked at a TOY R US....2 holiday seasons...didn't learn the first time...glutton for punishment I guess...or was it a sadistic delight?

[Wingshooter]

I vote we keep Christmas.

The crazed shoppers are annoying though.

[Guest John J]

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[Guest walkingdeadman]

Probably my favorite holiday besides Labor Day and Memorial Day. Its just they are a little less expensive to celebrate.

[Jasongar8]

Just finished decorating the tree. It helped get me into the Christmas spirit.

[Guest Jamie]

People are forgetting the true reason behind Christmas.

Uh, no, this certain person isn't.

The problem is though, that people have forgotten that the true reason behind Christmas was how it could serve the Romans in uniting their pagan and christian senators.

Christmas as it's ( sort of ) celebrated now didn't begin until some time in the 1800s.

Anyway, look the history of Christmas up some time. It's an interesting read, and shows just how much politics and religion can screw up a good thing.

[Guest Ae-35]

Uh, no, this certain person isn't.

The problem is though, that people have forgotten that the true reason behind Christmas was how it could serve the Romans in uniting their pagan and christian senators.

Christmas as it's ( sort of ) celebrated now didn't begin until some time in the 1800s.

Anyway, look the history of Christmas up some time. It's an interesting read, and shows just how much politics and religion can screw up a good thing.

AMEN

[Rightwinger]

I vote that a supermod/admin change Mike.357's screen name to Robert D. Rayford until Jan 2.

Can I get a second?

[hipower]

AMEN

Reading these posts is a humbling and yet a frightning and depressing thing. Humbling to realize that no matter how bad off you think you are; there's always another to make you take stock and realize how lucky we truly are. Frightning to realize that we have come so far from our family traditions and upbringing in the last one hundred or so years that we've become jaded, cynical and commercialized in our celebration of the arrival of the Christ child. Depressing to think that perhaps some of these comments are not made in jest and reflect the true spirit of the jumbled mass of people that we have become.

And before someone tells me I'm a self-righteous, hypocritical, blowhard for making these statements--wait. I've had all these feelings and more in the last 18 months. I was diagnosed with leukemia, had it transform into lymphatic cancer with inoperable abdominal tumors, had two complete sessions of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant procedure and now am undergoing radiation treatments that hopefully will be finished by the week of Christmas. And not worked during this time, had company job insurance cancelled, and terminated because I couldn't return to work when family leave time ran out.

So yes, I've had all those emotions and more. But, I'm still here. I was humbled greatly while feeling sorry for myself the first week of chem. I met a 42 year old young man with two young daughters and terminal pancreatic cancer. He didn't survive the chemo sessions. Yes, I'm humbled and mystified. He's gone. I'm still here.

It's frightening to go thru this and even more so to think that there are so many of us (including myself) that walk thru life without seeing the things that are truly important and meaningful. Supply your own awnsers to that. I won't profess to say I know the right awnser for anyone but myself for that question.

Depressing to see that in spite of all the beauty and wonder around us; in spite of all the troublesome issues that should occupy our minds when not caring for family and friends; we still haven't learned to see everything around us that is truly important. Living life to the fullest. Loving family. Playing hard. See I didn't forget that part. I like nothing more than to go to G&L for a couple of hours just as many of you do. Depressing and irritating to see us quibble over the individual interpretation of thoughts and feelings posted and shared here.

Yes, I've been all the things I've written about here. But I'm trying to be better for this experience. I've learned more about humility, getting along with others, controlling my bad temper and foul moods, appreciating the people and world around me even when it seems we're all heading downhill at breakneck speed without a thought for the consequenses. I'm still trying to appreciate all the different and exhausting people around me. Hopefully, I will get there.

And no, I'm not a complete idiot as some may think. I still dislike most politicians, hate the lack of border control and immigration regulation,really dislike the looming socialism, am disgusted by the attempts to fix health care and have national insurance, still believe global warming is an unmitigated fraud, but do try to conserve and believe making some changes in energy reforms, don't like PETA, but am against animal abuse, don't hunt, but see nothing wrong with hunting for food, don't care if you wear fur or not, believe in religous freedom, but not at the expense of removing God from our money, buildings and books, but leaving Allah-Budda-or any other religons' entity out there. And very much believe in MERRY CHRISTMAS! Not Happy Holidays or hoilday tree.

Have I rambled enough and offended most everyone out there yet? I'm sorry if I have, but I wanted to say a few things. I know I haven't followed gramatical form and rules and probably not been clear in my thoughts. And even though I'm known as somewhat of a Grinch by wife and family; for many, many reasons I wouldn't like to skip the season.

Yes people in general are obnoxious, spiteful, ungrateful, and deserving of all things said about us...We are all we've got.

So relish every day and every one we meet, even the jerk who took your parking space. love your wife, kids, family, and friends.

Thanks for putting up with this. I'll see you at the range.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

[Guest Jamie]

Hipower, A simple response for you:

You're still here and want to be. I do hope you get your wish, for as long as you wish.

However, I would rather not be here at all. It's just not worth it.

Good luck to you.

Jamie

PS. I'm not afraid of anything, except for living too long, and I think I've already done that.

[Mike.357]

I never said I like or disliked the Christmas Holiday, I just stated that I wished it was over.

[Guest db99wj]

Reading these posts is a humbling and yet a frightning and depressing thing. Humbling to realize that no matter how bad off you think you are; there's always another to make you take stock and realize how lucky we truly are. Frightning to realize that we have come so far from our family traditions and upbringing in the last one hundred or so years that we've become jaded, cynical and commercialized in our celebration of the arrival of the Christ child. Depressing to think that perhaps some of these comments are not made in jest and reflect the true spirit of the jumbled mass of people that we have become.

And before someone tells me I'm a self-righteous, hypocritical, blowhard for making these statements--wait. I've had all these feelings and more in the last 18 months. I was diagnosed with leukemia, had it transform into lymphatic cancer with inoperable abdominal tumors, had two complete sessions of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant procedure and now am undergoing radiation treatments that hopefully will be finished by the week of Christmas. And not worked during this time, had company job insurance cancelled, and terminated because I couldn't return to work when family leave time ran out.

So yes, I've had all those emotions and more. But, I'm still here. I was humbled greatly while feeling sorry for myself the first week of chem. I met a 42 year old young man with two young daughters and terminal pancreatic cancer. He didn't survive the chemo sessions. Yes, I'm humbled and mystified. He's gone. I'm still here.

It's frightening to go thru this and even more so to think that there are so many of us (including myself) that walk thru life without seeing the things that are truly important and meaningful. Supply your own awnsers to that. I won't profess to say I know the right awnser for anyone but myself for that question.

Depressing to see that in spite of all the beauty and wonder around us; in spite of all the troublesome issues that should occupy our minds when not caring for family and friends; we still haven't learned to see everything around us that is truly important. Living life to the fullest. Loving family. Playing hard. See I didn't forget that part. I like nothing more than to go to G&L for a couple of hours just as many of you do. Depressing and irritating to see us quibble over the individual interpretation of thoughts and feelings posted and shared here.

Yes, I've been all the things I've written about here. But I'm trying to be better for this experience. I've learned more about humility, getting along with others, controlling my bad temper and foul moods, appreciating the people and world around me even when it seems we're all heading downhill at breakneck speed without a thought for the consequenses. I'm still trying to appreciate all the different and exhausting people around me. Hopefully, I will get there.

And no, I'm not a complete idiot as some may think. I still dislike most politicians, hate the lack of border control and immigration regulation,really dislike the looming socialism, am disgusted by the attempts to fix health care and have national insurance, still believe global warming is an unmitigated fraud, but do try to conserve and believe making some changes in energy reforms, don't like PETA, but am against animal abuse, don't hunt, but see nothing wrong with hunting for food, don't care if you wear fur or not, believe in religous freedom, but not at the expense of removing God from our money, buildings and books, but leaving Allah-Budda-or any other religons' entity out there. And very much believe in MERRY CHRISTMAS! Not Happy Holidays or hoilday tree.

Have I rambled enough and offended most everyone out there yet? I'm sorry if I have, but I wanted to say a few things. I know I haven't followed gramatical form and rules and probably not been clear in my thoughts. And even though I'm known as somewhat of a Grinch by wife and family; for many, many reasons I wouldn't like to skip the season.

Yes people in general are obnoxious, spiteful, ungrateful, and deserving of all things said about us...We are all we've got.

So relish every day and every one we meet, even the jerk who took your parking space. love your wife, kids, family, and friends.

Thanks for putting up with this. I'll see you at the range.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Very well said, glad you have made it through. We do seem to drown in our own self pity at times, and reading a story like yours, helps us realize what is really important. God Bless and Merry Christmas.

Hipower, A simple response for you:

You're still here and want to be. I do hope you get your wish, for as long as you wish.

However, I would rather not be here at all. It's just not worth it.

Good luck to you.

Jamie

PS. I'm not afraid of anything, except for living too long, and I think I've already done that.

Wow, IMO, this is truly sad.

[Guest tonybon]

im with you mike357 wish it was over. i like the reason for the season! hate the idiots that try to find all the other reasons to make life a pain in the butt. Merry Christmas everyone!! :-\

[Guest Jamie]

Wow, IMO, this is truly sad.

Save your sympathy, and don't read more into what I said than is there. I'm simply quite tired of the world I'm forced to deal with, and the idiots that inhabit it.

( Sorry folks.... I'm just not in the mood to type out the page or two it would take to fully explain the meaning behind my previous post. So, ignore it and carry on as usual. )

J.

[Guest clsutton21]

Save your sympathy, and don't read more into what I said than is there. I'm simply quite tired of the world I'm forced to deal with, and the idiots that inhabit it.

( Sorry folks.... I'm just not in the mood to type out the page or two it would take to fully explain the meaning behind my previous post. So, ignore it and carry on as usual. )

J.

Jokes aside...you might wanna talk to someone.

[Guest Jamie]

Jokes aside...you might wanna talk to someone.

I/we ( Me, the wife, and the 13 year-old who's got more than a few issues ) see several "someones" on a regular basis... though not for me specifically. The consensus is that I'm quite sane, although more than a little tired and stressed.

Besides... I am talking to someone: You people.

Anyway, I'm not gonna write a book here. Just take mine and several "professionals" word for it that I'm not nearly so crazy as I might sometimes appear to be.

I do like to make people stop and think though...

J.

[Mike.357]

I feel ya Jamie, just because someone wishes it was over doesn't mean they wish it was over.

[hipower]

Jamie, I don't know what to say except to wish you well and thank you for the good thought. I won't say I understand because if there's one thing I have learned in my life, it's that no one else here on earth really does understand the levels of stress and feelings of another. We can utter all the well wishes and sympathetic words available, and sometimes they can help, but until we experience the whole of another life... I don't think it's possible to understand.

That being said...yes, hold on. Platitudes coming. Don't give in. The whole of life, in all it's extremes, and I do believe this, is better than not living. I look around and see people with strength of will and character, drive and ambition; those who seem to take life and take everything possible from it. Then I look at myself and see a person who very likely couldn't survive if not for having been lucky enough to have been born in this country and this era. I've walked thru life and not really lived it. I see that now and have many, many regrets. I can't change that now, but I can say to you...Please take each day as it comes. Live in it. Not thru it. And here it comes...please forgive, I must say it...Don't give up.

For everything that comes to us is purposeful and we should attempt to encompass it and learn from it. Now I'm still a far ways from being able to do that fully, but I will and must try.

I'm not a fully religous person, but I believe there is reason for very person and action; not always understood--mostly rarely understood, but it is there. I know a few words won't turn things around for you, but I'd like you to believe I have a slight clue about doubt and adversity. If I can attempt to make anything easier for you...

by talking or messaging, just ask.

If you don't mind, I'll add you to my prayers.