Not really.
I should be working on the mountain of homework I have. But as I get ready to go to my new seasonal job at a major retail store in Union Square -- the name I will not write but they praise themselves for being the official Christmas 'Magic' store -- the notion of immersing myself in this world of overwhelming jolliness that starts right after Black Friday, leaves me an artificial taste in my tongue. Like the taste of the rubber they use to wrap those 2000 Christmas lights set kit made in China that you can get on 20% off, should you decide to open a credit account with us. If you have never tasted that rubber is because you didn't grow up in Costa Rica.
The end of the year and specially Christmas is always a very weird time for me. It's true that back in Costa Rica there is a lot of shopping for this same season. People lose their minds and their wallets and spend the equivalent to several monthly paychecks (including their 'aguinaldo' which is an extra month of salary at the end of year. Yes, I wish we had those here.) in buying, drinking, traveling, drinking, partying, eating, borrowing some more money and having a beer with that. 'Tienda Universal' becomes the center of the Christmas universe and the Central Avenue has even been transformed in a winter wonderland of confetti in a tradition that has left many a lasting impression. Like the one of a young boy about to have his first ice cream cone in the most famous ice cream shop in town just to have a jerk throw a handful of confetti right in it That kind of stuff does things to the mind of a five year old... Costa Rica dives in the shopping frenzy of any healthy western city, just at a slower pace due to a smaller country and a slower economy. But we can spend the money we don't have on gifts too!
However, I always found refuge from those things by taking the end of the year as a time for me to make a balance of the year. It's the most spiritual time of the year for me, I even go to mass on Christmas eve! And that's a lot to say considering that I'm a recovering catholic. I don't really like to ask favors from God for the new year because I hardly ever think about him during the rest of it. But I do like to thank him as my own personal way to thank the universe, life or whatever it is you think that rules the world -- if there's such a thing -- for letting me grow one more year. When you come from a religious society some of that affects you and I can never escape the sometimes melancholic process of insight and revelation that I am programmed to run every time Jesus birthday is near.
Maybe that's why I'm sick already of Christmas music. I've heard the same 6 songs over and over again in all their different versions, mixes, remixes, in reggae, drum 'n bass, swing and R&B. The performances range from Sinatra to Brittney Spears... are you kidding me? Are you really expecting me to be all holi-jolly listening to the same music over and over again? I understand that if you're jolly then you do all kind of crazy things, like spending your life away in presents for your family. And that's cool, I wish I could do that every year... There is something about trying to be spiritual and honestly happy when you have to listen to this songs constantly. Makes being happy such an obligation that it's no longer fun.
The fact that in CR there is still a strong presence of Our newborn Lord in His Holly diapers lying between the ox and the cow, and that is Jesus Himself who brings you the presents makes Christmas a really spiritual holiday to me. Maybe my religious upbringing kicks in and I go into spiritual mode as I recount the year during December and make the arrangements for the challenges of the new year, for Christmas is our Thanksgiving. But the over happiness of the season is a lot of noise for me to deal with. It's kind of sad that the holi-jolliness that we are supposed to experiment during this month can't be diluted a little bit through the other months of the year. I'm sure it would make the year a lot better.
It's good to be happy, it's weird also to be obscenely happy when you are celebrating a Christian holiday. Maybe I just have a problem with the amount of shopping bags we give away during these days --or the value in $ of merchandise that was stolen from the store last holiday season-- I am one the worst salesmen I've known, but one day at this job and even I made sales! without even trying too hard!
I want to end in a positive note, maybe I'm more relaxed now that I had my therapy session with my laptop's keyboard. I love the holidays, they are the most special time of the year for me. It's the time when I get to see my friends and family that I don't see everyday. It's a time for great parties, great moments, lots of beer, LOVE and food... oh the food! Christmas is more than buying all those great things you have been wanting to get all year. It's also about taking the time to see how lucky we are for having more than what we need and still spare some for what we want. Sometimes the best gifts are not for sale online.
Feliz Navidad and please drive carefully, don't want to miss any of my friends this new year's eve.
-Angrytico-
