A bunch of damn grinches

Now I make it no secret that I am pretty much Miss Kringle when it comes to all things holiday cheer.

I have watched ten (yes ten) hours of cheesy Lifetime/Hallmark holiday movies in the last two weeks, I can't stop shopping, and I am already mulling over what to wear to various holiday affairs.  I recognize that not everyone loves the season like I do, but yesterday my Christmas spirit got thoroughly pissed off.

You see, for our work holiday party, a different department plans the party each year. In the 2.5 years since I have been here it has not been my departments turn. This year is the maintenance department and since the department is comprised entirely of men I struck while the iron was hot and told the department head I would be his bitch in regards to the party planning.

One of his ideas for the party (which I find super sweet) is to hang signs around the room that have everyone's description of what the holidays means to them printed on them. So at the chili cook off the other day he asked that everyone write just that on an index card. He collected them and yesterday asked me to design the signs.

As I typed out everyone's holiday sentiments, most were sweet and said things like, "eat, drink, and be merry" or "time with friends and family".

You had your occasional weirdo one like, "hot cocoa and burning things". Clearly I work with an arson but whatever.

And then there were the down right nasty ones and it really made me sad. Number one, the department head who asked for people to write on the cards is about the nicest man you could ever meet in your life so even if you hate Christmas you think you could find it in yourself to lie for his sake, but no.

I read through card after card that read Grinchy ass shit like this:

"Obligatory time with strange family members"

"NO SLEEP. NO REST"

"Empty wallet"

"I can do without Christmas"

"Not a fan"

"Bah Humbug"

"Stress"

What the frick is wrong with people? I just don't get it. How can you hate something so wonderful? And I am not talking about Christmas per se, because I know there is Hanuka and Kwanzaa and shit to consider, but I mean the holiday season as a whole.

You know what the holidays means to me? Well I will tell you, and you should tell me too, because i need my spirit restored...

-Spending time laughing with friends and family.

-Drinking my mom's homemade Irish Liquor.

-Eating delicious homemade food and cookies.

-Baking cookies for everyone you know.

-Buying presents for kids you don't know...what other time of year does this happen, riddle me that!

-Finding the perfect gift for someone you love and lighting up when they open it.

-Dressing your dog up for holiday pictures.

-People extending kindness...Jose and I were invited to Thanksgiving dinner by my co-worker because we are not able to make the trip to Michigan. It is so kind and generous of their family to take us in, and just the other day another co-worker asked if we had anywhere to go and offered a place if we didn't. That melts my friggen heart.

-Driving around looking at Christmas lights.

-Sitting around a table and sharing a meal with people you care about.

-Being just a little bit nicer to everyone you pass.

-Putting your change in a fake Santa's pot because you know it goes to a good cause.

All these things. I know the holidays are expensive and there is a lot of work involved, but they are really only as stressful as we make them, and I think if more people would just relax and enjoy instead of going bonkers with spending money and rushing around they could start to love the season too.