BILL'S: Texoma Christmas Spirit

Just had a friend post a blog about the wonders of the Christmas Spirit, talking about how a woman bought a gift certificate and gave it to a stranger. It really surprised me that a story like this would come from this area. Let me tell you about my examples of the Christmas Spirit in Texoma, and maybe you too will wonder how long one good apple can survive in a barrel of rotten ones.

My first Christmas after I moved into the area was in the year 2000. My first memories are of the Christmas parade. Granted I live outside of town in Whitesboro, and about three miles from the designated parade route. I was standing outside in my front yard. All of the sudden, I heard sirens and yells coming down the street. I stopped my yard work to figure out what was all the clatter. Come to find out, no one showed up for the Christmas Parade, and the city decided to take it's three vehicle parade to everyone, so they were driving through the city streets and countryside making up for the fact no one came to their party.

A couple of years later, I was working for Dr. Pepper and went into the Sherman, TX Wal-Mart to finish for the day. I worked until the store began closing at 6pm on Christmas Eve. As I was walking out, this lady storms passed me, yelling at how Wal-Mart didn't have what she needed. She jumped in her car, started it up, threw it into reverse and pulled out. Hitting my cart at the time. Wedging my cart under her car, missing me by inches. This is a great example of the Texoma Christmas Spirit.

The next year, I came face to face with another lady who just yelled and cursed. Blamed everyone for not having chopped broccoli when she needed it.

The next couple of years came with more yelling, more anger, and more of "me, me, me". This is the time people get so conceited, and so worried about themselves, or what their image will be presented. They have to "one-up" everyone in their lives.

Last year, one couple came up to me and needed some help. They bought their son over $650 worth of Electronics - from game systems to games to accessories. They were debating on another $175 of games and accessories, but decided to wait on them. They informed me that they would be better for his 8th birthday which is the week after Christmas. Hey, son, what does Christmas mean to you? Playstation or Nintendo?

This year, I can see the same starting. My family is going under fast. I don't even have enough to give my kids a great Christmas, but I will make the most of what I can. But a couple of weeks ago, I went to the Christmas Angel tree up at the front of Wal-Mart and found a child's angel. He was asking for a $25 IPOD giftcard. And it made me wonder. Here I am, I can't afford an IPOD. Our Christmas is only one gift for each person in the family. And here is this child looking for charity for a $25 giftcard. To some it might not mean much, but it tells me that this person can afford an IPOD, his parents can afford the highspeed internet connection necessary to download the songs and add to your ITunes playlist. Here I am struggling to keep the electricity on, trying to put food on the table, and the one asking for the free gifts is someone with the money. Again, a Texoma tradition.

Last night I watched the story about the United Way Plane Pull where United Way members from all over pull an airplane 30 yards to see who could do it faster. The whole thing is charity. I told Melissa, they should really test themselves and see who can pull it fast enough to get it off the ground. The first one to get their plane one foot off the ground wins all the money. She told me that it would be impossible. I informed her that that is only because the contest was held in Florida. If it was held here, Texomites would pull that plane forever trying to get it off the ground.

Christmas Spirit, hmmmm, who around here really understands the meaning? I see more Scrooges than warmth. There is more ice in the hearts of people around here than there is blood. Christmas around here would make the Grinch proud. Now all we need is the big tree with the hospital logo for the star...... Or is it already up, the bah humbug nature of the people here have already desensitized me to the season.