Happy Festivus for the Rest of Us!

While I'm not enjoying the Christmas season as I usually do, I'm not trashing it either.... I'm just not into it this year.... Usually I totally dive into the Festive Cheer of the Holidays by breaking out the Christmas decorations... By the time I unload the two or three rubber maids, it almost looks like Christmas vomited all over my living room. From a Christmas tree - usually with a story behind it - decked out in Holiday Style... To a foot and a half foot tall Santa, standing below the big screen TV... To a reindeer hanging on the front door bidding guests welcome... To a penguin cookie jar sitting on the coffee table, full of seasonal candy. This year, however... I'm a bit of a Grinch (you can find an ornament in one of the earlier mentioned Rubbermaid.)... a Scrooge if you will... But not really....

I hate to make another Seinfeld reference, but I think the nuts were onto something when they proposed "Happy Festivus for the rest of Us!" I was shocked when I googled the phrase to find out that it was much more than an idea from a crazy sitcom. While it may have been introduced on Seinfeld, the phrase "Happy Festivus for the Rest of Us" seems to have a far greater history than just a punchline to get a laugh. I'll sum it up for you, because you can do the work to find out more for yourself. "Happy Festivus" as explained by the "ever-truthful" and "respected" Wikipedia is "Celebrants of the holiday sometimes refer to it as "Festivus for the rest of us," a saying taken from the O'Keefe family traditions and popularized in the Seinfeld episode to describe Festivus as "another way" to celebrate the holiday season without participating in its pressures and commercialism." (And I'll explain the rest here shortly...)

DISCLAIMER: I'm not making any sort of Religious statement at all here, so no need to get up in arms. I have no issue with anyone, any religion or anything like that, so please don't take this as such. I may not be enjoying the holidays as much as I usually do, but I have no problem with anyone celebrating Christmas or Hanuka, or any other Celebrated Days.

This year's just a little different for me.... Being that I'm of the Unemployed Variety, the usual Christmas commercialism has really hit me in the face... And ya, it's because I can't afford to run out and buy a pile of gifts for my parents, brother, friends and other family... I'm sorry guys, I love ya... But I'm already up to my ass with debts in Student Loans and credit cards (one of which was recently used in fraudulent activities... Thanks you little wanks!!! I hope you don't even get a lump of coal for Christmas! JERKS!) I'm not going neck deep, just to buy my bro the wrong kind of socks or my Bestie something that'll be given to Value Village in 6 months....

I saw on the news, two nights ago I think it was, a story that made me want to cry... It was the usual heart-string tugging Christmas news story... But it gave me a little bit of hope in humanity. (Ya, I made myself gag there too... Sorry.) But it really did. It made me think of what Christmas and this time of season should be about... Helping less fortunate people out... It's not necessarily about them getting a hand out but a helping hand in the right direction.

The News that I was watching posted this link : http://homelesspartners.com/site/ on their website. So, after watching the news, I checked out that link. It'll take you to a site where you can find a list of shelters in varying US and Canadian cities... After you chose your city, it will give you a drop down menu for the local shelters. Once you've chosen your shelter, you will see a list of people who live in that shelter, a brief biography of that person, and their Christmas wish list.

Fortunately, Vernon was one of the cities listed on the site, and there are two shelters here in town. So, I checked out both shelters to see if I could help some how. My eyes, quite honestly, welled up at what I saw. Most peoples lists are things most of us take for granted... Most people just want to be in your prayers..... Others wanted basic things like a warm winter jacket, or boots... Some just wanted a pre-paid phone card so they could call home for Christmas... Others just wanted a book of transit tickets so they can look for work, or go see family over the holidays... Because who wants to walk or hitch hike when they have no proper jacket or boots?

My parents watched the news with me... I told them about what I had seen on the site... Dad and I wound up dropping off a couple coats down at the Men's Shelter. It was nice to know that stuff you may be "hoarding" can be given to someone who truly appreciates it... And may not get a Christmas present otherwise.

It's not always about me; So HAPPY FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US!!!!!