ripped off

December 24, 2002 &bull uncategorized

In life you always come across things which seem to be necessarily linked. Some less complex examples include, peanut butter and jelly. Marge and Homer. Cream and sugar. Republicans and corruption.

A more interesting example surfaces when people ask me where I’m originally from.

Person: “So, where are you from again?”
Matt: “Fargo.”
Person: “Oh, like the movie!”
Matt: “Yeah, you betcha.” (eyes rolling)
Person: “Is it really like that there?”
Matt: “Yeah, I guess so. I mean, not really the accent, but the wood chipper stuff is pretty common.”
Person: (puzzled look)

The same type of exchange almost always happens when the topic of birthdays gets brought up. When the conversation focus finally lands on me and I proffer up my birth date (December 22), the following remark is almost always made. “Whoa, do you feel like you get ripped off on presents?” My point is not that this is necessarily a stupid question. For, if my birthday was in June and I had enough spiked eggnog in my system, I might ask the same thing.

My point is that for me, at least, this has never really been an issue. Sure, I might get a few less presents for my birthday because it’s so close to Christmas. But, when you’re a kid what better present is there than getting out of school for Christmas break? Or, when you’re older, having a guaranteed vacation on your birthday? Or, better yet, having a majority of people be in a good mood on your birthday. The holidays do that to people. I just got back from a crowded grocery store where I was squeezing down the aisles, trying to pick up some last minute cooking supplies. When was the last time you were in that situation and 99% of the other shoppers were smiling and being overly-polite? When clerks and other grocery store personnel were practically shopping for you because they were so helpful? I just saw two people break into a fist fight in the parking lot as they were arguing over who had the right to give up a prime parking spot to the other.

That’s the best part of the holidays — the general good will that most people have. It’s always been great having a birthday around this time of year. As I get older I keep wondering why we can’t make each day and each time of the year as cool as the holiday season.

Comments

Comments are closed.

-