Bah Humbug?

I'm worried I might hate Christmas.

I don't want to hate Christmas. Like most people, I want to love it. I mean, what is there not to like about it? Spending time with loved ones, going to several parties, time off work, and of course, getting shit loads of shiny new stuff. All are positive things that will enhance your life and make you feel warm inside. But lately I've caught myself thinking cynical thoughts whenever the subject of Jesus' birthday comes up.

Last week in work someone began excitely decorating the office, and instead of joining in, all I could do was sit there and make unhelpful comments and pour scorn on the whole 'tis the season to be jolly' theory.

Swearing at the television has become the norm. More so than usual. Every single ad is to do with or has been heavily influenced by Christmas. Every single one. Even the ones for diarrhoea relief, I swear.

Last night we had our works Christmas do. For various reasons I wasn't going to be able to make the party, and in a strange way I was actually quite relieved. Now its not uncommon for people to dread the works Christmas party. Something about having to actually socialise with people you normally wouldn't go anywhere near unless the printer was broken (and even then you only communicate via email) really shouldn't appeal. But I'm lucky in that most of the people I work with are lovely. A lot of them are true friends. So I should have been looking forward to it. I should have been gutted about not being able to make it. And yet that wasn't the case. As it turns out I was able to make it, and I had a wonderful time. I drank a bit too much, hugged a lot of people, danced all night, and did my usual drunk thing of closing my eyes and screaming the words to all the songs directly in to the unsuspecting faces of anyone unlucky enough to be within a 10 yard radius. Today's hangover was spectacular.

And it was in this hangover haze that the revelation hit me. I don't hate Christmas at all. The thing is I have this unbearable knack of turning against things that everyone else raves on about. Bands, television shows, diarrhoea relief...if I didn't discover it for myself then chances are I won't even give it the time of day and dismiss it out of hand. Its stupid. Truly stupid. But it happens. So when everybody else is getting in to the festive spirit, I find myself turning my back on it.

But no more. I've decided to make a real effort from now on. I'll go to all the parties (should be easy enough), enjoy all the turkey dinners (again...straightforward), and by Christ I might even wish the printer repair man a Merry Christmas.

By email obviously.