Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for December 06, 2022

I never took to buying online. Like my father I always enjoyed going shopping but with one difference. I believed in starting months earlier than himself. He was adamant about shopping for Christmas on Christmas Eve. Drove my mother crazy.

That’s why Al Gore invented the internet.

I enjoyed it as a kid. It was exciting and the stores downtown had big window displays. The basement at Sears was full of trains and Santa was similar to the one Ralph stood in line to see. The city spread out. Malls took over and everything changed. Where are you Christmas?

Being retired means that I can shop when it’s less crowded. 9:30 to 11:30 and or 1:30 to 3:30 Monday thru Friday. Christmas is on Sunday this year so I’m planning to be done by Friday. I do not want to be shopping during the “It’s Christmas eve and I need one more stocking stuffer” madness.

My sentiments exactly Arlo

If everyone is so concerned about it disappearing, get together and make sure it doesn’t. Help out Toys for Tots, volunteer at a library holiday party for kids, decorate your house, go Christmas caroling. You don’t just have to stand by an watch it go. Buy a Christmas sweater and wear it

Things fun at one time become less so over time.

There are other funs, though.

Happy HELLiDAYS HUMBUG

Materialistic consumer economy?

The parking for our local ritzy Mall is serviced by a couple of ring roads. I liken them to Dante’s circles of hell.

The Sear’s Wishbook!!!

Went Black Friday shopping once. Learned my lesson well. Never again! Pure insanity by all the Karens!

As a kid we would go the the big city and see the sights and us kids would oogle the toys at the stores. Even riding the escalators was fun!

I feel the same way, Arlo.

I remember when stores had MERRY CHRISTMAS banners. Now other religions think it is too Christian-centric but they still push their own annual celebrations and if they don’t like Christmas being about Christ they don’t have to celebrate it.

https://manisteesleighbellparade.com

I was never fond of getting caught up in a crowd. Since 2020 and social distancing, I’ve not missed being in the masses. Smaller gatherings, though, I’m all for. I love all the lights and decorations and the general feeling of cheer in the air. Shopping, though, was frustrating. We’ve changed the way we shop for presents now, small, general and fun stuff. Nothing expensive.

How can the letter “X” stand for “Christ”?In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word Christos (Christ) begins with the letter “X,” or chi. Here’s what it looks like:

ΧριστόςSo how did that word get abbreviated?In the early fourth century, Constantine the Great, Roman Emperor from 306-337, popularized this shorthand for Christ. According to legend, on the eve of his great battle against Maxentius, Constantine had a vision that led him to create a military banner emblazoned with the first two letters of Christ on it: chi and rho.

Selective nostalgia

One thing that has changed Christmas shopping….crime rampage!

I wish he would draw the eyes better

When I was a little kid my dad would take me to work with him on Dec 23 (“no one does any work then anyway”) and we would go around Manhattan – visit Santa, and see decorations. Other than that I don’t remember going into stores at all.

Arlo talks about how wonderful the hustle and bustle was when he was young, but he has no desire for the hustle and bustle of today.