I trudged past the ice rink at Crown Center this evening on my way to get my nails done. I'm sure that my irritation was evident as I pushed my way past the ice skaters, but I was late for my appointment. I was operating on a single hour of sleep in the last 36 - we lost a security guard at work, so I've lost my usual Saturday night chill-out time, and with it, my sparkling weekend personality (can you feel the sarcasm dripping from your computer screen?).
I finally arrived at the salon, 10 minutes late, having run the gauntlet that is the cosmetics counter in Hall's, plowing through the herd of Christmas shoppers happily munching away in the food court, and passing the Golden Harvest Bakery where I generally stop for my pre-manicure latte (no time for latte, Dr. Jones).
I sank into the familiar comfiness of the Naturally Salon & Day Spa - Celtic music playing, soothing green walls, the scent of eucalyptus - and happily lost myself in my nail lady's familiar tales of woe. Five kids, single mom; believe me, she has some woe. An hour later, complete with sparkly purple nails, I left the salon a different person.
On the way to my car, I considered the two-story tree dangling from the ceiling between the escalators. How much money did it take to get that tree up there? Just the man-power to heave it, the engineering to make sure it didn't fall, the insurance costs that Crown Center must be paying just in case it did.. we're not even talking about decorations here (and this tree was DECORATED)!
I meandered through the maze of merchandise in Hall's - fine china, ridiculously priced cookbooks, handbags, scarves, boots, clothing - realizing that even more Christmas trees and decorations were mixed in with all of it. On a single floor of this department store, I counted over 17 trees!
I kept thinking about all the people who were cold because they were unable to pay last years' gas bills (and believe me, I'm speaking from first-hand experience here), and the children who wouldn't be getting toys or clothes this year. I thought about the parents who were going to charity agencies trying to make sure that their families were fed - and I'm not talking about the Christmas turkey, I'm talking about putting dinner on the table tonight.
Just the trees in this store could have made Christmas a little better for over 17 families! The decorations on one of them could have paid for food for a month!
I felt like Scrooge, denouncing the joys of Christmas - where was my Christmas spirit? I left Crown Center depressed. The trees around the ice rink were beautifully lit, and I continued to think about the cost of the manpower to hang and maintain them, not to mention the electrical expenses.
When did I stop seeing the magic of Christmas? When did I stop appreciating these things? And here I was, paying $40 to get my nails done while I bemoaned the excesses of a commercial Christmas! What is wrong with me?!?
I guess I'm ready for 2007.
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4 comments:
Sara, hope you get some sleep soon! I don't know how you could go for so long without any!
It's called over-extension. Get some rest and stop drinking so much java. It amazing what sleep can do for you.
Yes, my dear you do need sleep, however, you bring up a VERY valid point. It is sickening how many people there are in this world who have nothing. No home, no food, no clothing, no family. It is sad to think about how many people are going homeless and hungry while we are all out spending money as fast as we can to find just the right gift for everyone on our lists. Maybe you should adopt a family or go serve a meal in a shelter. Maybe that would bring back some of your Holiday Spirit.
I used to bitch about $300 purse buyers, but then I realized I was a total ass, since to a lot of people, my $30 purse is pretty damn extravagant. Now I just keep my friggin mouth shut and try to help where/as much as possible. I got this "letter from Jesus" thing the other day, I'll have to forward it to you when I get to work.
I like Heather's take too.
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