I am not a Church going person - maybe an atheist, maybe agnostic - regardless - I grew tired of the Church routine a long time ago. Regardless of my parents coming to terms with that (the Church thing, I mean) they still feel that on certain occasions - Church is mandatory. I have tried to explain that I do not believe in God, do not support the Catholic Church, etc - but somehow that all matters little on Christmas. They see going to Church as more of a Family activity. So I suck it up, show up an hour early (got to get the good seats) and try not to make it apparent that I'd rather be most other places.
From there it's home for about 45 minutes, grabbing some of the presents, tray of Baked Ziti, and then loading into the car and heading to my Uncle's house (mom's brother) to really kick off Christmas. While at home, and at my Grandpop's (Dad's father), gift opening is one at a time and everyone watches - my Uncle's is a count down to tear. I know I am 22, but this is just as thrilling as it was years ago and it's a great way to really kick off Christmas. Paper goes flying and all of us - parents, and kids alike - are all focused on our 3 gifts in our piles. After getting through them a mingling and show-and-tell session commences followed by a Chinese Pollyana for the adults.
Then it is home and a struggle to fall asleep before the morning. I still struggle out of excitement to settle in. I can still recall arguing countless years with my parents because of those few gifts I received from my uncles house -whether it was an action figure, a video game, etc - being unable to play with it until the next day was impossible.
The picture today is my POV for about 80 minutes today. That is the time it took to get out of the mall parking lot during my lunch break at work. I don't know if people are just behind this year or if it is just this mall - but it should never ever ever take 80 minutes to get out of a parking lot.
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