Hmph!

So lately things have been terribly hectic and tight financially. I have been picking up five and ten dollar Christmas gifts for a few weeks now because I know that this will not change come December and the gift-giving season. Everything is balanced so precariously on “maybe next payday” that I could scream, and what do I happen to see while trying to watch the latest Castle episode on HULU, but a commercial from the post office talking about how someone’s aunt went “off list”.

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!?! OFF-LIST?!?!?!?! Like the type of present or amount of presents is actually a serious problem these days? Shouldn’t we all just be grateful and happy that someone even thought of us. Someone cared enough to get you a present, even though most of the country is living pay check to pay check. UGH! This is seriously one of my BIGGEST pet peeves. I mean I like a great gift just as much as the next person, though I do like giving more than receiving, but sure, I’d love to get a new Chef’s Knife or a kiln, hell a new pot and pan set sounds amazing, but I’m not expecting them and I’m certainly not going to get upset if I don’t get anything like that. I know that money is tight, I’ve gone years without presents before, some hurt more than others depending on the reason, but I didn’t die because I didn’t get that beautiful bracelet I had seen at the jewelry store that I sometimes stop at to admire the shiny pretties, or the ravioli cutter than I would in all honesty use maybe twice before it started collecting dust and I just cut them by hand again. I guess I just don’t understand all of the hype about getting the “perfect gift” or the “right gift”.

A few years ago, I bought my Mother-In-Law a pretty angel candle holder thing. I found it sweet and nice and it was something that I thought she would like. Turns out she hated it and left it at my house. I still don’t understand. It seems she was hurt that I didn’t know her tastes very well, and felt that I had not put the correct amount of thought into a gift for her. I agonized over what to get her for days before I finally picked up that stupid angel. When I saw it, it had actually reminded me of a memory that I had held special between the two of us, which to be perfect honest there were not many of. Turns out she didn’t even remember.

Is there a rule book somewhere about what to give who? I mean seriously! The holiday season has gotten to be more about the gifts than the actual reason for them. People have become so jaded why don’t we just send the money back and forth. To be perfectly frank I’m sure the money would come in more handy than a new toy or gadget that will be useless in four months. At least that I could use to pay rent or buy groceries.

Now I understand that there are still some folks out there that believe in the Christian Christmas traditions, I however am not one of them. Though I do wish you the very best. I have nothing against your religion or how you perceive the holiday season. My rant has nothing to do with religion what so ever, but then again, even if I did bring religion in to it, wouldn’t it just help make my point?

I guess all I am trying to say, is that the holidays are not about what you get or how much you get. Its about who you spend it with, who you’re thinking about, and who is thinking about you. So gather your loved ones together, both family and friends alike and sit down at the table and enjoy a meal. Talk, laugh, and love one another. Bring the holidays back to where they should be.

 

 

Every lesson I learned as a kid was at the dinner table. Being Greek, Sicilian and Ruthenian – we are an emotional bunch. It is where we laughed, cried and yelled – but most importantly, where we bonded and connected.

Michael Symon