Ok, is it me or this there a big lack of Christmas cheer this year? Even while shopping, picking up children, out and about, etc. I have yet to have one person say "Merry Christmas" and then they look at me like I am some kind of nut when I say it.

I know there has been a lot of bad things this year for our country, but there has been a lot of good too. We saw a country united for the first time in many many years, we still have freedom and our flag still waves.

I also know there is a lot of other religious belief but a "Happy Holiday" instead of Merry Christmas would not hurt anyone of other faiths.

Has the spirit of Christmas become so commerical, so stressful and such a headache that no one can be thankful or appreciative of the season? I sure hope not.

Anyway from me to you..."MERRY CHRISTMAS" friends! Hope it is the best one yet for you and your family!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), December 19, 2001

Answers

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you too!

I agree, but I think one of the reasons is that Christmas is so commercialized.

We have gone back to the simple Christmas, no stess, just enjoying the season with friends and family.

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), December 19, 2001.

MERRY CHRISTMAS Karen! And to all the Countryside Forum denizens!

We've been so darned busy around here, Christmas has not just crept up, it has come zooming up like a descending rocket. Oh well. Just me and hubby and the two cockatiels...all the family lives far away, so we have our own cosy little Christmas. Got hubby's gift today, wouldn't you know he'd be standing in the driveway with the neighbour when I came home...so had to pull into neighbour's driveway to stuff it under my coat so he wouldn't see it when I pulled in, the two guys standing there grinning like a pair of Cheshire cats. Could it be any more obvious what I was doing? LOL!

My brother phoned yesterday all in a panic, he and sis in law were in the middle of baking stollen, something had ruined part of the recipe and they didn't know what to do with the eggs. Had to read off my copy and then email it to them.

My tree (artificial) has been standing in the corner here behind me for a week, first year for the "big" tree since we got our German shepherd. Had to buy a wee small tree and put it 'way up on a table out of his reach while he was a wild energetic puppy. So far, so good, he's ignored it, and hasn't taken a notion to life his leg in the tree's direction, so we can enjoy our big tree again this year. I shall probably have it decorated by the weekend.

Putting the ornaments and decorations up always puts me in a festive mood. I've noticed too that people are more somber this year. I've always believed Christmas is what you make of it, I come from a family who had more fun making home-made gifts and eating home baked goodies, my Austrian mother made tons of traditional treats that packed a few pounds on all of us. We never bought into the "commercial" aspect, just enjoyed having some time off together. My father always bought a jigsaw puzzle, we all worked away at it in the evenings while watching t.v. Geez, I'd better quit reminiscing or I'm going to be getting "homesick"!

So whatever way or whatever it is you celebrate this season, I wish a good holiday for all of you!

-Chelsea

-- Chelsea (rmbehr@istar.ca), December 19, 2001.

I just got home from my one & only trip to the big mall in Raleigh and I was amazed at how nice everyone was. The parking lot was packed but no one was fighting or cutting each other off, the mall was crowded but people actually held doors & smiled at me! It was a very pleasant surprise. Happy Holidays to all of you & yours.

-- cathy in NC (planet10@gloryroad.net), December 19, 2001.

Merry Christmas to everyone - thought you'd like to see a Christmas goat: [IMG]http://www.whistles.com/images/1julbock.jpg[/IMG]

-- Merry Christmas! (dreece5@excite.com), December 19, 2001.

here's the goat (i hope) ( try again...)

http://www.whistles.com/images/1julbock.jpg

-- Merry Christmas (dreece5@excite.com), December 19, 2001.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone here. I don't have the christmas spirit this year because I went through back surgery in August and it just don't seem to be getting any better. I always like to bake goodies at christmas time, but can't stand very long to do it this year.

I think one reason everyone is so somber this year is bacause there has been so many lay-offs. My daughter lost her job then her car and she is down, so it's hard to be up and celebrating when a loved one is going through realy hard times.

But enough about my troubles, just wanted to give one reason why there isn't good cheer.

So once again, Happy Holidays

-- Ruby (mcfays@aol.com), December 19, 2001.

I was just chatting with my DD about the coming Christmas. It's going to be a difficult Christmas for many, many people this year what with 9/11, the lay-offs, the military and so forth. I think we're all very conscious of that and maybe that's why we're not in our usual good cheer. We can only hope and pray the the families affected will find peace and some happiness in the coming year.

-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

-- Merry Christmas (still practicing sorry) (dreece5@excite.com), December 19, 2001.

No snow. At least here in Iowa. It's very hard for me to feel Christmassy without snow. And there are a lot of layoffs in this area so business is bad for everyone, people aren't getting there bills paid, blah, blah, blah. BUT, I'm working on. Planning on baking this weekend which always gets me in the spirit. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

-- Stacey (stacey@lakesideinternet.com), December 19, 2001.

Hi all . . . . . MERRY CHRISTMAS . . . . .

But I, too, have had trouble getting into the Christmas Spirit this year . . . . . I think it has to do with not having any little ones to watch, DD is not going to be home this year and it will just be hubby and the dog and I and it's hard to make it a cheery, festive season when it seems like just another day in the year . . . . does NOT "feel" like Christmas at all!!! IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 9/11, trust me!!!

I am in a state I do not like, in a home I am uncomfortable in, with the "neighbors from hell" and it just has NOT been a good year for me and then add health problems into the mix and you get the idea!!!

So . . . I have talked to several people, here and on the web, and there are hardly any of the ones I have talked to "in the spirit" this year for one reason or another!!!

That's just my two cents worth!!! "wolfie"

-- wolfie (wolfiequinn@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

Not in the mood here either .Have no clue what to get .Health problems ,family and neighbors .And again the house isn't done how I want it .I want a rock to hide under till Jan 1

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

I haven't liked Christmas for a while now. I guess memories play a part but mostly it is so commercial. I hate hunting for a perfect gift for someone and they don't like it or can't use it. I'd rather be doing something else. And we dropped our gift giving to bare minimim. AND I can't go to church because the candles and incense make me sick.

Well, Happy Holidays to everyone else.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), December 19, 2001.

I thought it was just me because I've been in a lot of pain the last couple of months (back problems). But then I noticed we didn't get nearly as many Xmas cards as usual. I wonder if community Xmas spirit goes through cycles, like the economy & weather do.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), December 19, 2001.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!!!!! I am just finally getting into the spirit. For me it's been all this rainy fall like weather. But I am on vacation from my job this week and I have been shopping and today I baked all day long. I made fudges,(chocolate, vanilla w/walnuts, and peanut butter yummmmmmm) and some Ultimate chocolate chip cookies, they are huge. I also made some chex mix and cooked a venison roast and made homemade noodles. The bad part is that I am only about half way done with my baking. Okay maybe not so bad for those who will get to partake of the goodies. I like to make up goodie boxes for my BIL and Poppa. Hubby just sneaks what ever he wants. :-) I also like to visit friends and neighbors with treats. So, yep, I am finally getting the holiday tingles. Hope you all have a great holiday and a wonderful new year to come. Kim in Indiana :-D

-- Kim in Indiana (kwcountrygirl@aol.com), December 19, 2001.

I think people are just taking a little longer to get into the mood-- for instance, a lot of people just put up their Christmas house lights this last week, when usually they are up right after Thanksgiving. Also, some people may have waited because of the so-called energy crisis last year and didn't want a repeat of the blackouts this year.

"Happy Holidays" doesn't carry the same message to me (sounds just like "have a nice day"--nothing special) that "Merry Christmas" does. That said, if someone were to say "Happy Hanukkah (spelling?) to me, I would just say it back and no harm done.

One thing that gets me in the mood is watching Scrooge (Alastair Sim, in the original black and white--the scarier parts look scarier, lol--, thank you very much) on video. I try to catch the musical version as well on TV when I can. I agree that having kids home for Christmas makes a big difference in how you feel and celebrate it.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), December 19, 2001.

Hubby married another woman. Left 3 bedroom home for a 3 room apt 100 miles north of family to follow my job. Spent large amt $ for a horse and lost my job (downsizing) the next day (after 16 years). Been ill for a month. Bought used 4x4 truck to be able to get on/off my land (2 tracks thru the woods) and it won't run. Kids are grown and gone. But I'm going to church and planning on moving onto my land in the woods come spring (weather my city car wants to or not). I'll have to live in a little trailer, pump outside, outhouse and 8 acres. Should be interesting. Thank God I don't have to spend the rest of my days in an office building of a large corporation. Merry Christmas to me. I deserve it. MERRY CHRISTMAS

-- Susan from almost Northern MI (smb7705@aol.com), December 20, 2001.

Hubby married another woman. Left 3 bedroom home for a 3 room apt 100 miles north of family to follow my job. Spent large amt $ for a horse and lost my job to "downsizing" the next day (after 16 years) SURPRISE! Been ill for a month. Bought used 4x4 truck to be able to get on/off my land (2 tracks thru the woods) and it won't run. Kids are grown and gone. But I'm going to church and planning on moving onto my land in the woods come spring (weather my city car wants to or not). I'll have to live in a little trailer, pump outside, outhouse and 8 acres. Should be interesting. Thank God I don't have to spend the rest of my days in an office building of a large corporation (lemonaide out of lemons). Merry Christmas to me. I deserve it. MERRY CHRISTMAS to every Countryside follower.

-- Susan from almost Northern MI (smb7705@aol.com), December 20, 2001.

It's time to dig deep and find that copy of It's A Wonderful Life and replay it until the days get longer.

-- Just Duckie (Duck@spazmail.com), December 20, 2001.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Future to all. Jim

-- Jim Raymond (jimr@terraworld.net), December 20, 2001.

I just the other day saw where the average American family owed $8500 on credit cards,with Christmas being so commerical and the pressure is to spend and spend some more its no wonder folks are "down".The holidays should be a time to reflect on the good things and enjoy family and friends and forget about the negative things for awhile,unfortunately it can't be that way for alot of folks.

-- Gary (burnett_gary@msn.com), December 20, 2001.

Isn't life interesting! I just returned from the funeral of my nephew that was killed in a car accident Sunday. This is the second nephew that I have lost in the last 4 weeks. The first one died from cancer. They were both nice young men in their early 20's. I have been in court for several days helping another young relative going through a divorce. Life is too short for sweating the small stuff!! I am going to have a great Christmas and celebrate each day to it's fullest. I hope that each one of you has the greatest Christmas ever!! Give your family members lots of hugs, those are better than presents. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), December 20, 2001.

BAD PARTS - the bank screwed up my account, got half my paycheck in fees, Christmas went bye-byes. I work with 6 catty, gossipy women who have nothing better to do than sit on thir cans for an hour while I bust my butt, and then I get in trouble for taking a (20 MINUTE!!) break (only one!). My mother and I haven't seen each other in weeks because my stepdad gets a hissy fit when Ma gives me any attention.

GOOD PARTS - I have a loving fiance, my health, my dreams. I have a work ethic and the strength and can-do attitude to back it up. I'm a good Christian who doesn't engage in gossip at all, and God knows what's going down here on earth far better than we do - I'm just glad He gave us His best Gift!!! So I say... MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!!!!

-- Connie L (MykellSilver@aol.com), December 24, 2001.