Silent night...Holy ***t!

Christmas is definitely upon us! It's everywhere...there is no escaping it now. Would you want to? Sometimes I would. Anyone who has been to a shopping centre has experienced "Christmas" in all it's glory or is that gory. My last visit was two days ago, hopefully my last until after it is all over.  I was in the tiniest shop you have ever seen. Truly it is literally a hole in the wall. When you are in there, you are jammed between the clothes racks and other customers. Why would I bother, you ask...well, just occasionally you find some real gems. Hidden articles of clothing like no others, but yes, you do have to fight for them, or at least the space to look for them. So on this day I felt I had the energy to be in there. I should have known better.
In comes this "woman" literally barging her way to the counter. I was close by, elbows in, searching the hangers for that bloody hidden gem! This "woman" turned to me and shouted "I'm in a hurry here!" I could feel her anger, her frustration, and something that bordered on panic, so I slowly said.....O.....K. The store person made her way to her counter where the "woman" threw an article of clothing at her screaming..."I washed this in the washing machine, just once, and it fell apart...what crap are you selling here!" The store person calmly picked up the garment, found the washing instructions, and read out "Hand wash only" followed by "I'm sorry, but there is nothing I can do about this, you really need to read these before washing anything." Red in the face, pouting and about to explode, the woman stormed out, leaving the clothing behind, only to return moments later with "I'll fix it myself!!" spittle flying, snatching the garment from the counter. To her credit the store person smiled and said "Merry Christmas!"

Half an hour later I was in Coles, almost running with my trolley through the isles, get in and get out!
I was standing choosing my eggs next to a Coles employee, Christmas carols blaring out of speakers just above us. "Do you hear Carols in your sleep, do you sing them in the shower?" I asked. He turned to me with a tired smile. "What it does, is de-sensitise you. You loose the Christmas spirit. Especially when you see the people in here, stressed and angry and the corporate giant pushing them to buy crap they don't need. And on boxing day the Hot Cross Buns will be out for Easter!"

O.....K.......

Maybe the "woman" had been to Coles before me. Maybe we have got our tinsel in a tangle. I spent the rest of the time slowly shopping, smiling and yes, singing along with the carols.

"God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay....."