Boogsey Music

So this holiday is a little lean.  Not just for me but so many people I know.  A lot of people cannot afford to pay their bills, others struggle to buy gifts for their kids and so on.  Still with the holiday season, we continue to follow our traditions in spite of our circumstances, whatever they may be.  As I was driving this Saturday afternoon, I flipped on the car radio while I waited at a red light.  The talk show host was discussing ways to save money this season for the sole purpose of buying gifts.  “Take a loan out against your car so you won’t be without cash in your pocket.” (I do not recommend doing this).  “After all, when the money’s gone, so will your relationship be.”  Our host’s implication that we only stick around when the going is good really got me thinking.   I suppose there is some truth in that statement.  It certainly isn’t as much fun to be with somebody when they’re depressed and broke all the time.  But how many couples are really that shallow?  I always thought real love was supposed to survive the hard times—my parents’ love did.  Was the divorce rate higher during the great depression?

In my research I found a 1940 survey in which 1.5 million married women had been abandoned by their husbands.   Upon further research I discovered the divorce rate increased due to very low self-esteem.  The men couldn’t find enough work to support their households and were forced to rely on their wives to make ends meet.  The depression finally lifted when American troops joined World War II.  According to Answers.com, The Great Depression of the 1930’s ended when the U.S. entered World War II.  “Entering war helps get out of an economic depression because it takes men out of the work force and puts them in the military, causing the rest of the U.S. to enter the job market.  Then they mass-produce many products, which causes the economy to boom.”  Are they saying that war is the only solution to improve a bad economy?   Well, manufacturing is increased and soldiers are employed by the government, which decreases unemployment.  On the flip side, more people die (ouch).  With less population, there are more jobs available.  So I guess one could deduce that war does help the economy.

It seems to me the one thing we should remember is no matter what our economic status, Christmas was not originally about buying gifts.  It is supposed to be the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.  Instead, it has become one big commercial push to sell as much stuff as possible in a 2-month period.  The Christmas discounts start right after Halloween.  They used to wait at least until Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving).  It seems the season’s real meaning has gotten lost somewhere in between  retail stores and online specials—who’s going to make the most money.  And don’t forget the day after Christmas sales.  It just makes me want to leave town for a month and return on December 27^th!  Oddly, that is sort of what I’m doing.  I decided this Christmas to spend it in Vegas.   I will return when the dust settles.  It seems to me that the real war is in RETAIL!  Hmm, maybe I’ll find a deal at the outlet mall on my way out of Vegas.  Merry Christmas Y’all!