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Is it just me, or does the commercialization of the holidays drag other's down also?
I finally bit the bullet and started my x-mas shopping this week. Why rush into things.
Yesterday I broke down and did something I said I would not do: I went into a large shopping mall here. GASP!
As I entered through one of the anchor stores (Hecht’s I think) I was assaulted by a massive floor display of Totally Unnecessary Kitchen Appliances. There were stacks of every conceivable counter-cluttering "convenience" appliance imaginable. You know the ones. There were ten varieties of George Foreman fat-reducing grills, George Foreman "Lean Mean" Roasting Machines, George Foreman rotisseries; I think there was even a combo box containing a grill, rotisserie and coffee maker. What the fuck?! Low-fat coffee?!
Then there was the "Electric Smores Maker". Now you can share “quality time” with your family by sitting around shoveling pure carbohydrates into your mouths while staring at six to eight hours of mind-numbing reality TV. Give me a fucking break! If you or your kids really need to eat marshmallows and chocolate melted on graham crackers, at least take your lazy ass outside and build a campfire like we did when were kids!
My reason for braving the mall in the first place was to get to a store that specializes in clothes for tall women. My wife has wanted a new floor-length robe and I thought I might score one at the Tall Girl Shop. As it turned out, the few robes they had were about as sexy and fashionable as something left over at a K-Mart clearance sale. One actually had dirt on it like someone used it as a dust rag in the back room.
I walked out into the mall (maul?) and wandered around for a while and was struck by how lifeless everyone seemed. Everyone seemed to have an exhausted deer-in-the-headlights look on his or her faces as they wandered about trying to gather as much “stuff” as they could before the clock ran down.
I don’t know if it’s my annual seasonal affective “issues” or my absolute dislike of climate-controlled, community-destroying mega malls, but I just had to get the hell out of there.
So: back past Old Navy, the GAP, and Athlete’s Foot. Past the kiosks selling sunglasses, cell phone accessories, and NASCAR driver bobble heads. Past the Tall Girl Shop of Expensive, Ugly & Dirty Clothing. Back into Hecht’s and past display after display of cheap (but expensive) Gift Items for People You Don't Really Care About. Left turn in the makeup department. Suffer another nasal assault resulting from simultaneous shopper sampling of every single perfume/cologne/fragrance available (mix Opium, Eternity, White Diamonds, Organza, CK, etc and what do you get? CRAP!). Finally, past the essential quesadilla, smoothie and pizza makers, and out into the night.
I’m not a religious person, so I have a hard time getting into the whole Baby Jesus and the Three Wise Guys in the manger thing - and the constant repetition of lame Christmas songs either get me down or gets on my nerves, i.e. “Little Drummer Boy”. A-rumpa-pum-pum THIS!
Is it just me, or do others share my growing antipathy towards American’s blatant consumerism – especially this time of year when it seems to peak in an orgy of spending on worthless shit??
GOD! I’m feeling like a total Grinch! Little Cindy Loo Who where are you?!
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