That is the Question.................
Been inactive for five years now and into what I consider a very successful fade. Wifey and kids are out. And we're truly enjoying life.
Probably 4 years ago we started with the completely religiously neutral "Family Day." (Bleecchh! How lame is that?) This was brought about by my then 8 yr old who was extremely self conscious about not celebrating Christmas due to having to explain to her friends after the Christmas break that she got absolutely bupkiss for Xmas. So we bought a ton of presents and stacked them in the corner, waiting for the special day to arrive. Great success! Everyone had a lovely time! Plus I got some really cool shit too, yaay!
As you can guess, by last year we progressed to the full on celebration of Christmas. Cards, gifts for friends, even a few wishes of "Merry Christmas! to friends and business associates. Wifey wore a hideous Christmas sweater. We had a huge Xmas dinner. Mind you, at this point, no one in my house really even believes in the story of Jesus. As any really honest 21st Century person will tell you, its all about family being together and, of course, PRESENTS! The only thing missing was, you guessed it, the tree.
Now, here's the rub. Just last week I came home to a tract stuffed in the door. Something titled "What happens when we die?" or some sort of dishonest nonsense to trick the unwary into accepting a bible study. Along with said rubbish was a note stating that we were missed. Please! Enough already with the insincere, sappy nonsense. If we were really missed, how come it was so easy to fade into inactivity? But I digress. The problem lies in the fact that anyone even getting within spitting distance of my doorstep can see into my entire house. Any meddler's will be sure to inform the local Gestapo (elders) that we are now worshipping Satan because we have an Xmas tree.
One part of me wants to cry out to the Gestapo, "Go to hell, do what you need to do!" The other part of me, happy with fading into obscurity, wants to keep my life on the down low. I just don't need the drama. Additionally, my wife still has some extended family still in that she would like to not totally lose. On top of all of that, do you know how much work goes into a tree? Holy crap! You have to go to the tree farm. Cut it. Wrap it. Haul it home. Set it up. Water it. String hundreds of lights. Decorate it. Lotsa time and lotsa cash.
So...............not to keep you in suspense. I have a date this Sunday. Not going to the meeting, no. Going to the tree farm, family and dog in tow. We are going to cut our tree, drag it through the snow and spend the afternoon decorating and having fun. Probably have a few hot toddy's as well. Should any ne'er do wells come to the door, let the chips fall where they may.
Through all of this I am reminded of the story of the town donkey and the prospecter donkey. They're both tied onto the same hitching post. The town donkey looks to the prospecter donkey and sees a heavy saddle, all the tools and supplies the prospecter uses, as well as four fifty pound sacks of ore. The town donkey says, "That's quite a load you have there." The prospecter donkey says, "What load?"
You don't realize until you're outside of it, what a burden this F'd up religion places on people. Who today should worry about losing relationships over a goofy holiday? If you need to DF me because I want to spread some cheer and generosity in the middle of a long, cold winter, go ahead.
Just remember Ebenezer, that the ghost of Christmas may reach his bony hand onto your shoulder