The most wonderful time of the year?

Tomorrow. It's only a day away. Christmas. So far I have been avoiding christmas music, and attempting to avoid the chaos of shopping malls and plazas. The sickness rumbles in the pit of my stomach. Not the first christmas the whole family hasn't been together. We don't have family christmas parties anymore, due to the fact that most have past on. At least I don't have to work this Christmas like others in the past. And this time my brother won't be joining us. This is a time of cheer. But is it really? Most people think they are. But most just get stressed over financial situations. People give, and receive. I gave a bum some money and bought a pair of shoes that gives one to a child in need. Other than gifts for my parents, that is about all the giving I have done. Is that not enough? Am I not cheery on an acceptable level? Am I just not affected by the consumer bull shit? I think not. The jewelry commercials are the worst. The fake lives of happy couples, with love spells under a diamond, and some gold. Picture perfect. Or so they think.