Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

While stuck in traffic the other day, I noticed a blind beggar on the other side of the road playing Christmas carols on his rickety instrument.  Most of the people passing by would pause for a while, dig deep in their pockets for some loose change and drop it in the beggar-slash-musician’s tin can.  I could not help but think about the effect of the holiday season to all of us sentimental fools.  I don’t mean to be snide abot my remarks but then thats what we all are.

Pathetic sentimental human beings.

Come to think of it.  Why do these poor beggars need to wait for eleven (and a half) freakin’ months just so they could earn a way above average income?

And its tax-free, mind you.

And during the “lean” months, their pleas would just go unnoticed, drowned out by the loud cries of the jeepney barker a few feet away from them.

But some would still spare them some change, though.

The holiday season is a different story.  Our hands willingly dive into our pockets, purses or wallets just so we could give alms to our beggar friends.

And now we consider them our friends.

But just this time.

Our generosity having an expiration date.  Good until the holiday season ends.

It not only affects the relationship between generosity and the depth of our pockets, it also extends to our personalities and the warmth of our hearts.  The season never fails to bring out our cheerful side, at least once a year.  This is the time were everybody loves everyone.  Were all of us unanimously put aside our differences and come together as one.

Yes, we truly are pathetic.

Pathetically sentimental fools.

After the season ends, hospitals would be teeming with patients – victims of vehicular accidents, firecracker explosions, stray bullet wounds, stab wounds, gang related fights, etc.

The primary reason?

Too much merry-making.

Too much of the holiday season that we could ever handle.

Too much alcohol content in the victims or culprits’ blood.

All these just so we could celebrate the holiday season.

But who cares right?  Not all of us become victims and end up in speeding ambulances on the way to the hospital.

The holiday season fever trumps the holiday victims.

And then what next?  After the “merry” season ends, we go back to our same old ways, doing our same old routine again for the next eleven (and a half) months.

A cycle we all are willing to go through just to reach it again.

We all are rats, hamsters or even gerbils running the wheel inside a cage.

Whatever.

At least we all have something to look forward to.