Ashley Elvington
staff writer
Bah Humbug!
“I
think I’m going to listen to some Halloween music,” I threatened
someone posts on a cell phone video of people fighting
to my co-workers back in November, as some of my fellow office
over items in a store. While I haven’t personally been in
inhabitants (looking at you, Haley and Drea), decided to bring in the
a fight, and refuse to lose my character over anything
Christmas cheer at the beginning of the month. “You better not!”
materialistic, I make that dreaded Black Friday trip every
Haley shouted from her desk. But if I have to listen to Mariah Carey sing about what she
year with my mom. And every year, I try to talk her out of
wants for Christmas ONE more time… I don’t thank modern technology much, but I’d
it. Trust me, there is nothing I want badly enough to get
like to give a shout-out to Apple for their ear buds (and to Melia for letting me borrow
up at 5:30am and shop for! She says she wants to do this
them) and to whoever invented Spotify and Pandora Radio. You saved a girl’s sanity this
to spend time with me, but I think that’s her method of
month, guys. At least, what’s left of it anyway.
guilt tripping me while she enjoys the “thrill” of the hunt.
Don’t get me wrong – I love Christmas and always have since I was a child. But, as
I learned pretty quickly the do’s and don’ts of Black
I’ve grown older, the magic has somewhat faded. Somewhere along the way, especially
Friday two or three years ago. I made the mistake of
I appreciate an ugly holiday sweater, so this was perfect.
this year, I’ve become a bit grouchy. Personally, I blame society. (It gets blamed for ev-
going into Bath & Body Works, which was packed. We all
I came close to driving home with my Bing Crosby CD on
erything else wrong in the world, so why not?) Each year, it seems the marketing cam-
looked like a bunch of sardines in a can. Usually, I love
blast that night. The extra early Christmas spirit was
paign extravaganza for Christmas arrives earlier than the year before. Just this summer,
picking out “smell goods” and candles from there. Or, so
getting to me after all!
I was walking through Hobby Lobby with my best friend Carli. In one round, we walked
I thought. There was this woman in particular who had
All in all, I just want folks to honor family time and
through Fourth of July décor, then Halloween, then Thanksgiving and finally a plethora
her giant beach bag sized shopping tote halfway full of
traditions this season, as well as remember that there
of Christmas items. Granted it is Hobby Lobby, but seeing all of the holidays grouped
items. First, she reached her arm in front of my face to
is more to Christmas than presents and stuffing your-
one after another in a corner of the building made me feel like we visited the trees in Tim
grab something in front of me without saying, “Excuse
self more than the turkey on the table. This month, what
Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas (which, let’s be honest, should be the real name
me!” (I’m old fashioned, I know, but I value manners.)
we all should be celebrating is the FACT (Yes, fact!) that
of Black Friday). Back in September, I was in Walmart and while the Halloween items
Strike one. Then, as I moved down the aisle, she proceed-
a certain special Someone came into this world to save
weren’t even close to being put on display, stockers were putting out Christmas trees. In
ed to follow and get closer to me. If I can feel you breath-
us. The Lord knew we definitely needed saving! And, we
the words of Pooh Bear, “Oh bother!” Should we invite Santa to Easter dinner next year?
ing on me, that’s certainly strike two. Finally, in the pro-
still do, as we have gotten off track in this world. One of
By this point, I’m aware that I’m starting to sound like Scrooge. Once again, let me clarify.
cess of snatching the last couple of items on the shelf that
my favorite songs performed at church during Decem-
I love this season – the colored lights, the tradition of making sausage balls in my great
I had my eyes on, she knocked me over with her bag. No
ber is “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” With recent events,
aunt’s (now my mom’s) kitchen, opening up one gift on Christmas Eve, finding my
apology, not even a word. Strike three. Bench it, Buster!
it’s easy to assume that world peace is just a silly idea.
Sinatra and Bing Crosby cds… But, I feel like the things that should truly matter this
My patience and temperament went out the window.
However, I have faith that there is still good in this world.
season are always swept under the reindeer adorned “Wipe Your Hooves” rug, so to
Having enough sense to not brawl over soap, I removed
And, my God promises that good will ALWAYS triumph
speak. Where are the Christmases of the past? No, I’m not asking for the ghost to visit me
myself from the store and happily found my place sitting
over evil. So this season, instead of tripping someone for
anytime soon. What I’m talking about are the values, the way things used to be.
amongst the tired, bored men outside the store. I just
those last pair of heels that are 80% off or complaining
hope she really needed that soap.
because someone has more than you do, spend your time
When I was a child, I didn’t hear about the crazy fights during that day known as Black
Friday (which I’m now thinking is called Black because it’s a day we mourn and say R.I.P.
Just before press week, an unfortunate accident
spreading positivity into the community. You can start
to the things we previously said we were thankful for just the day before). I didn’t want
happened to our office CD player (I’m innocent, I prom-
small by doing something as simple as smiling or briefly
the latest thing in technology to distract me from talking to and spending time with my
ise!). While I