Many of us love this time of year, but for others Christmastime is torture. The Daily Shift’s Aoife Bennett tells us what it’s like to live with a Grinch….
Do you know one of these?
For many people, The Grinch is just a film released in 2000 starring Jim Carrey and a pre-eyeliner Taylor Momsen. For others, it’s an everyday existence. One of my close friends is such a person. Which is all well and good, but I live with her and my Christmas spirit makes Buddy the Elf look like Scrooge.
I live with a Grinch.
Now, before I begin properly, I have to state that there is nothing actually wrong with this woman. She’s of perfect health, and of pretty much sound mind and body. She’s just not as into Christmas as I am.
There are plenty of reasons why someone might not be as excited about Christmas as the rest of us. Take, for example, someone who has no one to spend the season with. With the rise in emigration (thanks, recession) many young people are now spending Christmas far away from the rest of their families. Having Christmas dinner over Skype isn’t the same as elbowing your brother out of the way so you can get to the cranberry sauce.
Or it could be for financial reasons. I think we’re all old enough now to realise who the man in the big red suit REALLY is. Once again, the economic climate is beating us, and many families aren’t able to provide the big toys little Johnny and Mary want to find waiting under the tree.
When you’re not a big fan of Christmas, it’s difficult to avoid it. Because, to put it bluntly, as soon as Hallowe’en ends, Christmas begins. Or so it seems. The Christmas lights on Grafton and O Connell Streets have been lighting for a week or so now, but they’ve been up for much longer. Jervis looks like a veritable winter wonderland, and has since the middle of November. For me, this is like Heaven on Earth. I could see, however, my roommate tense up as we strolled through the shopping centre near our college en route to Tesco.
So, take care of those who don’t live for Christmas. Let them know it’s Christmas time, but don’t force it down their throats?
[...] Ho Ho No: Living With A Grinch [...]