I’ve always wondered why people refer to this time of year as the “silly season.” I think I understand now…
I’m fully aware that the insanity of the holidays is totally manufactured by us all (as well as many a marketing executive). Here are some of the silly things we do:
1. We’re all rushing around sending out holiday cards when we probably all keep in touch via Facebook, Twitter or some other much more modern format
2. We force ourselves to buy presents for people because it’s the holidays and that’s what we’ve been conned into thinking we’re supposed to do
3. We indulge in desserts or other random but not often eaten foods…again part of the holiday tradition (some things are even questionable as to whether they ARE food…case in point, fruit cake!)
4. We spent more money and time trying to get to friends and relatives during arguably the crappiest time of year to travel
As with all downsides, there is an upside…
1. We get to see friends and relatives we don’t regularly visit
2. We have an excuse to watch all the Rankin/Bass claymation Christmas classics (who doesn’t know a few words to the Heat Miser song)
3. We can eat and drink whatever we want
4. We get presents
The holidays would be fine if that was the only craziness, but when you pile it on top of those year-end corporate goals people ridiculously push for when most of the world is on holiday it becomes, well…silly.
Given we’re still working on returning our plumbing/hot water heater to working order, we’ll be downright ready for the loony bin when the holidays are over.
Happy Holidays to all our friends and family!
Tom, Michelle, McKinley and Bodie