Novel Addictions

 

Don’t get me wrong–I like this time of year. I love the crispness in the air, the bite of cold air that nips at my nose on my walk to work. I love the scent of family holiday recipes floating down the sidewalk to greet me on my walk home. But most of all, I treasure the sight of thousands of lights glittering downtown and in my own neighborhood. And when I go back to Kentucky for a weekend or just a holiday visit, my family sometimes piles into the car to drive around gawking at Christmas lights.

What I don’t like about this time of year is the commercialism and endless parade of merchandise on display for anyone and everyone willing and able to spend. I found out just the other day how meaningless cash has become in our culture when I went to Best Buy and there were two separate lines for customers: cash and credit/debit cards. The cash line, of course, was empty. I like paying with cash. I like the feel of it and the fact that it’s a tangible item. With a debit or credit card, you never see the money, and according to Dave Ramsey, you don’t get the “ouchie” moment you do when you let go of a good ol’ greenback. He’s right, though. I find that I am much less willing to let go of cash whereas swiping a debit card is only too easy. And Christmas is the prime time of year for overspending. I find it akin to staying on a diet (budget) all year round, and then when the holidays roll around, you promptly decide the diet (budget) isn’t worth it and go on a spending binge. Ramsey calls it a “financial hangover” that lasts until July…when the average American pays off his or her credit card bill from the holidays. July! Of the next year! Who wants to do that?

One radio station here began playing Christmas music 24/7 on November 1st–far too early, in my opinion. By the time Christmas actually gets here, you’re sick of it. And as soon as Halloween passes, the stores roll out the Christmas trees, ornaments, candies, and toys. It’s as if Thanksgiving has become the invisible holiday. We go straight from Halloween to Christmas. I’m tired of the rush. Can’t we slow down and enjoy the entire season? When did Christmas become about marketing instead of a celebration? I know I’m not alone in this. And retailers just keep pushing their limits. By the time December 25th comes this year, I will most certainly be ready for it to end…and how sad is that?