My December to Remember 3: Day Twenty-Five
News: Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green swatted.
7K-strong migrant caravan headed for southern border, could grow to 15K before Blinken & Mayorkas’s trip to Mexico Wednesday.
I hate to talk about this on Christmas, but it was going to come up sooner or later. The news is dictating these entries. And I wasn’t banking on talking about violations on the same day as the birth of our Lord. Or at least that’s how the Christmas story goes. I’ve been having a muted holiday season anyway, but I’m purposefully ripping myself apart to share with the world during this month. And if you choose to listen, it’s still your choice. I’m not foisting myself upon you like some unwanted kiss under the mistletoe. Still, a lot of the world doesn’t play by the rules and thinks everyone wants what they’re selling, without ever bothering to check their list twice.
Earlier this month, I actually went to a holiday party. It was a media event for a group we work with for our show, and even though it was kind of lame, I got a free couple of whiskeys and food for the evening. So it wasn’t a total bust. At least I got out of the house. But I had to walk there. The subways were just magically not going to stops in Manhattan, and traffic was already a nightmare, so I just bit the bullet and walked the twenty blocks in my heels. It wasn’t that bad. I had only a coat on and was slightly dewy by the time I arrived. But that’s all besides the point. I was catcalled on the walk there. And that’s something I keep telling people doesn’t happen anymore. But it does. Not a very holly jolly way to spend your holidays.
I mean, whatever. This guy wasn’t that bad. “Miss, miss!” I heard him shouting as I stormed ahead, deftly working my way through the crowd so he wouldn’t catch up with me. I swear he said something about my behind, which exists and I can’t help that it exists. I only slightly glanced back a few times to make sure he wouldn’t follow me to my destination, and thankfully he got lost in the crowd. There are some things like that which just fall into the ignore pile. But the second catcall came as I was walking home, and this guy’s hark at my herald angels made me want to do anything but sing.
I’m not going to repeat everything he said. That’s because I found it absolutely disgusting. Probably one of the foulest things anyone has ever said to me. And it was the manner in which he said it that really grossed me out. He got up close, walking behind me, crossing from my back right to my left, speaking low but loud enough for me to hear about how he wanted to O Come All Ye Faithful at me. And how he’d be “all up on that shit,” which, jeez, what a thing to say to a lady. What’s the rate of success I wonder. I didn’t say anything, though when I stopped at a light and noticed he was still behind me, but further to my left, I gave a slight side eye with as grossed-out a face as I could muster. Because that’s what it was. Just gross. I felt gross. I completely didn’t ask for that, and there it was for Christmas dinner.
All I did was walk home and look the way I do. Just because “it happens” doesn’t mean I or anyone else deserves that kind of treatment. We’re constantly in a state of things we didn’t ask for, all because a bunch of idiots think they know what’s best for us or is the right course of action to make their points. It’s all so stupid. It’s cheap and trashy. And it’s time to leave it all in 2023.
I know there’s a part of us that may never be the same considering all we went through, but we don’t need to keep doing this. I know it’s hard, especially this year. My dad said it barely feels like Christmastime, and that seems to be a universal feel for all of us. I guess all I can really say is I hope we know our limits going into the new year. That we can know what’s right to do and what’s not. And to just keep the grossness to ourselves for once. Because it’s not your job to impose your will on the world when no one asked you to. You need not burst in on Mommy kissing Santa Claus any old time you want.
Everyone really showed their butts this year, and all the nastiness just floated to the surface. I hope we find ways to skim it off the top. Or find a reindeer or two for some much-needed runnings over. Merry Christmas!
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