Member-only story
And The Lemmings Are Off!
T’is the Season after all
Here we go, My Fellow Americans and avid consumers throughout the industrialized world. I trust everyone got their turkeys in plenty of time and braved whatever weather the climate gods threw so that everyone could get Home for The Holiday.
For a country that puffs itself up so loudly and self-righteously about the importance of the individual, it’s mystifying to watch everyone fall into lockstep as soon as Halloween exits stage left.
Show of hands: Who did not do any of the following in the past two weeks?
- Bought a turkey
- Booked a flight
- Baked / Bought pies
- Got the car ready for The Big Trip
- Complained quietly to friends about The Big Trip
People act genuinely confused when my response to the eternal seasonal question (What Are You Doing For The Holiday) is “nothing”. Sometimes they react with sympathy. Many times they ask if I’d like to come over to their place. Occasionally one will privately express envy. Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to do all that and buy all that and eat all that and go all those places? Gosh.
But they have to.
