Holidays not always filled with cheer

Yesterday, I stopped in a convenience store.  In front of me at the checkout was a young woman (30ish).  The cashier, decked out in a Santa hat and festive sweater was doing his best to get her to smile.  "Hey ... it's Christmas!  A little smile would be a good thing!"

He kept trying.  She just wanted to pay and get out.  He rang a little bell in her face, "Merry, merry, merry Christmas!"  She grabbed her items and left the store as he said, "Hey, you don't have to be the Grinch!"

I had only one item so I was out in a hurry and there, leaning up against an old car, was the young woman.  Crying.  I walked up to her and asked if I could help in any way.  She said, "I'm so sorry.  No.  It's just the holidays - it's not a happy time for me."  I offered to buy her a coffee across the street and she said thanks, but got in her car and drove off.

I didn't ask why she felt the way she did; it was none of my business and I felt like I had already invaded her very private emotional space.

But I've been thinking about her, and she's not alone.  There are many people who don't jump for joy over the holiday season.  The reasons?  Well, those reasons are as varied as the individuals who feel this way.  Maybe this is a time they feel the loss of a loved one who is gone.  Maybe there is no family to share the holidays with ... or maybe there are strained relationships within that family.  Maybe the person is alone and is reminded of that at every office party.  Maybe the shopping, music, bells, stress are just too much. Maybe parents cannot afford presents for their children.  Maybe the memories of holidays past are just too painful.

The "holiday blues" are a very real thing to people who experience them ... and the reason doesn't matter.

While you might decorate your home and head to parties, while you might wear your Santa hat and go caroling, while you might shop 'til you drop and spend hours wrapping gifts, while you turn the radio on full blast to hear yet another version of  "The Little Drummer Boy" ... please remember that not everyone is filled with your Christmas cheer.  Some people are just trying to get through the holiday season.  One day at a time.

The young man at the convenience store didn't mean to hurt anyone.  And the young woman knew that.  As I watched that interaction, I hurt for her.  She was uncomfortable and she was sad and she was hurting.  And, he, not paying attention to how she was reacting, was telling her that what she was feeling was wrong.  This is Christmas.  It's a holiday filled with joy!  Right?

No ... not for everyone.

Two presidents - one focus!

As the world learned about the death of America's 41st president, George H.W. Bush, social media became quite interested in these questions:  Would Donald Trump attend the funeral?  Would he even be allowed to attend?  

On Dec. 4, 2018, FOX News gave us the answers.  Yes, Trump would attend:

"The Bush family has taken great care to assure that services being held to honor the life and legacy of former President George H.W. Bush do not become a political platform for anti-Trump swipes."

Okay ... so Trump would feel safe.  He would not be the focus of the events. He could honor protocol by attending the services for President Bush.

But was he safe?  Well, no, he was not.  And that isn't because any of the speakers at President Bush's services took "swipes" at Trump; they didn't.  It wasn't that he was ignored; he wasn't.

Trump wasn't safe from criticism and judgement because ... he is Trump.  Period.

Trump was not mentioned by any of those speaking.  And yet, he was.

Speakers described George H.W. Bush with a variety of adjectives.  Here are just a few:  honest, honorable, loyal, compassionate, friendly, giving, loving, courageous, patriotic, respectful, decent.  Not one of those adjectives can be used to describe Trump.

Speakers described President Bush's life as one filled with humor, deep faith, public service, and integrity. Trump's life?  Well ... no ... no ... no ... and, no.

There is no way one could avoid comparing #41 to #45.

President Bush respected the institutions of our country while Trump doesn't understand the institutions and is doing his best to tear them down.

Trump may not have been the focus of the services for President Bush, but he was there, front and center.  Not because the Bush Family planned that focus, but simply because Trump is Trump and we, as a nation, have every right to compare these men's presidencies, their presence on the world stage, and their effect on the people of this nation.

I hope Trump learned something from this week of remembering President George H.W. Bush.  I doubt that will happen.  He immediately tweeted his 50% approval rating (a false statement as shown by Gallup poll results).

President Bush, thank you for your service, Sir.  Yours was a life well lived, a life of service to others.