In Which Discretion is Optional

The Holidays have always been a mixed bag. On one end you're freed from the shackles of workplace mingling for a precious few days, unhooked from the generic sameness whose rustic claws puncture into your life and root you into complacency. Rejoice, there's something different happening. On other end of this drab and unfurnished corridor, just once you've breached the outer sanction of the parking lot and you've gripped the wheel of your economy sedan which now burns off the fumes of hopes and dreams (of free time and video games), you will feel an icy trickle of watery fear down the back of your neck.

That's because on your alleged 'time off', you will have to spend most of it either driving, or displaying various degrees of exaggerated interest to people you see only once, perhaps twice, a year. I'm not saying this is a bad, or wrong, thing. Only that it is extremely time consuming and on any other day of the year would be considered miserable scenario to force yourself through. But that's what the holidays are for, you spend money, you receive gifts, you talk about stuff you've likely forgotten you care about, and you drive...a lot. The whole experience is done right as you get a chance to get back to work.

I say this as someone whose only in the last few years have held a steady relationship with the same lovely woman. It was so much worse, during those dark 'you might or might not be my girlfriend after this month' times when you're sitting at your girlfriend's family's place and nobody, pets included, are sure whether to invest any real investigative interest in your involvement. No matter how you slice it, you're stuck for hours hearing stories about people you don't know, whom were doing things mildly interesting, a good deal involving drugs or cats, and all the while thinking that if they'd just let you sleep in the car, or in the snow, wrapped in molten lava, on a bed of rusty spikes, the thing would be just a touch more enjoyable.

One day I'll warm up to the idea of an large extended family being the prime hangout spot during my critical rest and relaxation days. Perhaps even next year...