Yay Christmas!

I know, I know.

That sounds odd coming from me. But let's face it:

I love Christmastime.

I can't explain it. Well, actually I can, but the explanation really doesn't justify the degree to which I love it.

Fozzie said to me the other day, "I don't know whether to call your gift a Chanukah gift or a Christmas gift, since you think it's all bullshit, anyway."

I understand his confusion. It's not the religion I get excited about at this time of year. I love Christmastime because Christmastime, sans the religion, is a big celebration of all the things that are good about people. Their generosity. Their kindness. The sense of belonging to a greater whole, and a denial, at least for a while, of their selfness.

It's about the people you love. Wishing them well. Heaping goodwill on their sorry my-ass-is-dragging-'cuz-it's-the'end-of-the-year selves. Sure, it's nice to get a gift, but it's better to give than to recieve. (Gifts, that is)

I'm just riffing, here.

In any case, I love Christmas. For the pause. For the fellowship. For the chance to be altruistic.

But not for the religion. Definitely not for that.