de Paul Warren

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Humbug… it’s been 2 years now. This being my third year as a humbugger. I don’t think I’ll return to Christmas as I had it previously. I think people understand that I will not return the favour and give them a gift if they get me one. The past 2 Christmas’ have been fairly stress free. I have to admit, I rather enjoy it.

I wrote a post about 2 years ago as to why I became a scrooge / grinch. Not much has changed. Although I’m less offended when people spread Christmas Cheer. I mentioned before that I would hold my tongue, well now I shrug it aside like they just insulted my lawn… It’s my lawn, I couldn’t care less. In fact, I feel a little pity for them:

• having to stand in lines buying gifts that are
• often likely to get the response of  “Oh…. thanks…. it’s .. great.”
• stressing out when they are not sure what to get someone, but the they have to get the other(s) something
• because they know the other(s) got them something and feel they have to return the favour.
• as a few have to endure the last minute shopping because they waited until today (Christmas Eve) to shop.
• as a few of them are getting the latest in popular items that have caused wide spread chaos as parents fight to the death to get a $20 gift that the kid will have forget about in 2 months.

I do not miss that at all.

The only thing I’m a little peeved about still is how Christmas is viewed by Christians and non-Christians. Christians are upset that Jesus is being removed from anything related to Christmas and the non-Christians are upset that Jesus is still in Christmas. Granted there is a group that doesn’t care either way, but this is not about them. I get annoyed when I see Christians putting up a fight or protesting to have Jesus returned to Christmas. If someone wants to celebrate with Santa Claus, let them. It’s not our place to impose Jesus on anyone. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. As ambassadors, we are to abide by the rules of the foreign country we live in and at the same time, live as an example (and a good one at that) of who we really are. Throwing a hissy fit  because Santa is more popular than Jesus just shows you’re not being a good enough example of Jesus in the first place…. and the hissy fit adds to that.

Either I’m numbed by what goes on now, or things are not as bad as they used to be. Not with the whole X-mas fiasco. If things are not as bad now, then that’s a good thing. It’s just something I’ve seen before and I haven’t vented about for a while, even if that whole thing is now stale.

Anyway… if the traditional gift giving is for anyone, it’s children. I’m still on the fence as to how I want my children to experience Christmas. However, anyone who tries to make that decision for me can stuff it.

Being a soon-to-be father is a little different than being a mother. Not that I’ve experienced both, but at least for me, it’s still a little surreal. But now that the baby is moving more, and significantly, it is beginning to feel a little more real.

It’s funny in a non funny kind of way. I once thought of posting an entry of how my dreams are starting to fade away. Things that might have been attainable several years ago, are no longer because of time or responsibilities. While at the time, I was saddened to see them leave, they fade in comparison to my apprehension to my being a parent now (soon). The complications our child is going through and what my wife has to endure, all I’m concerned about now, is her well-being. It’s tough feeling so helpless when you’d give anything to help out.

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Now that Medea is born, the complications continue. She’s been through a lot but it might be a month at least before everything is normal. It’s frustrating to say the least. We want her home. We want her to feed like a normal baby. But despite all that’s gone on, we’ve been rather calm throughout the whole ordeal.

We had plenty to be worried about. Major surgery on a newborn’s neck. It affected the jugular vein. It could have been stressful for us, but we felt at peace. Knowing the chain of events from when Pam was found to be pregnant, to the surgery, it gave us peace and confidence that this wouldn’t be the end.

Events of late wouldn’t worry us now.

Just test and build our patience.