Be The Fruit

Tis the season to be jolly?

by Bill Blair on 15/12/07 at 11:47 pm

Christmas carols paint a picture of the Christmas season as a wonderful joyous occasion.  We hear about peace on Earth, joy to the world, and how it tis the season to be jolly, fa ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra.  Are we really that jolly?  Are we really at peace?

Let’s face it, when Thanksgiving rolls around we all put the pedal to the metal and go.  We decorate, we shop, we go to parties, we shop, we eat, we shop, we go to more parties, we shop, and then we wrap presents.  Then we have to figure out our holiday plans.  Do we go my parents or to my wife’s?  Do we stay home?  What are we going to cook?  All of this just adds up to stress.

Last week at the Cool Springs Galleria there was an incident where the “jolly season” got the best of somebody.  Apparently woman “A” accidentally drove the wrong way down the parking lot aisle and another woman “B” did not like it.  Woman “B” ended up in some sort of “parking lot rage” and assaulted woman “A” for driving the wrong way.  A story for the incident can be read here.  Very jolly indeed.

Well, tonight I got a slight touch of the jolly season for leaning up against a watch display case in Belk.  I had backed up to the display case while my wife and daughter were looking for some boots.  There was no way I looked like I was looking at watches, but the sales lady came up and sharply said, “Can I show you anything in the display case?”  I said, “No, I am just leaning here.”  She turned and walked off without saying a word.  Trust me, it was ugly.  I am not sure if she thought I was going to break the case, or if she just cleaned it or what.  Whatever it was, she did not want anybody leaning on her display case.  She was jolly as well.  I let it go, turned the other cheek and we headed to J. C. Penney.

Finally at J. C. Penny I saw a glimmer of hope.  We went to the shoe department and met Dana the “Shoe Man.”  First, Dana was wearing a Santa hat and approached us with great enthusiasm and humor.  He found out our names, and we joked about the price of the “snooty” coffee drinks my wife and daughter were drinking.  He joked with my daughter while he checked the fit of the boots she was trying on.  He said, “Repeat after me.  I will not spill coffee on the shoe man.”  She laughed.  We ended up buying two pairs of shoes from him.  Finally, someone who was jolly.

Two words of wisdom:  One, try to be jolly and enjoy this Christmas season.  Two, go to J. C. Penney at the Cool Springs Galleria and see Dana the “Shoe Man.” 

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.  It is past my bedtime.