A Funny Christmas Story

Christmas means many different things to so many different people. As for me, Christmas means being able to be with my family. My three children with their spouses and my two grand-kids spend every Christmas day with my beautiful wife of 40 years and myself. How very blessed we are.

I read an article that said that holiday gift spending on Black Friday weekend in 2014 dropped 11% from 2013. In 2013, consumers spent $57.4 Billion yet only $50.9 Billion was reported for 2014. Just for that weekend alone !! Is that not crazy? Even a "down"year generated over $50 Billion in sales for four days. Needless to say, I do not enjoy this annual holiday kick-off extravaganza.

Due to this kind of insane "holiday" preparation, I came up with a humorous poem to make a bit of a mockery of the whole thing. But, don't despair, in keeping with the holiday traditions, there's a happy ending. So, without further adieu...

Tis the season to be jolly,

I think I could debate!

It's not as if I am a scrooge

Nor even filled with hate.

I'll tell you what this Christmas Cheer

Really means to me.

And when you finish reading this,

BY THEN, I think you'll see !

The First thing that I really dread

It's time to shop I've heard,

While only trying to park your car

Someone flips you 'the bird'.

So, You're not even in the store

And you're already mad!

Then just like cows moving in a herd

You’re pushed through crowds ....How sad!

And just as fun far as I'm concerned

Is searching for "Thee Gift"

Which leads to choose how much to spend

As if you're a spend thrift.

And even if you really find

A gift you're sure's just right.

You'll have to pay but wait in line

As if you've got all night.

First comes the Christmas chore I hate,

putting up the Christmas tree.

I have an artificial one

in our attic space, you see.

It's not as easy as it was before

To drag that box back down.

Always searching for extension cords

feeling lucky if they're found.

And are the lights truly meant to be

All tangled and a mess?

They are, for me...yet it's all my fault

If I must confess.

And trying to make your house festive

using all that holiday decor

Has simply come, at least for me

A big ole Christmas bore!

I will admit it does look nice

Seeing gifts; around the tree

And even after all these years

I still wonder what's for me !!

Remember all the fun you had

with all that shopping mess?

You just can't wait to give "Thee Gift"

And then ...they could care less!

I know I've carried on too long

about what Christmas means to me,

Cause Christmas really is for kids

And that's how it should be.

Yet still, I must be truthful

on that December day...

I still feel that special magic

If I honestly must say.

Even though I dreaded it,

And remember Christmases past

I love the way that things turnout

and our day goes bye too fast!

When it's time to take things down

I honestly do get sad.

I just can't wait for next year

Cause it's really not that bad.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!