You Can Say It Here!

Merry Christmas from Nacogdoches!  That's right, you read it correctly.  I didn't type "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays".  I said Merry Christmas dadgummit and I meant it!  You can say that in East Texas and nobody gets offended.  Even if they did, they'd have the courtesy to keep their offense to themselves because that's just how people are here.

I started telling people Merry Christmas the day after Thanksgiving when I had to work alone in my office all day.  Each time someone called or came in to make a payment, I told them Merry Christmas.  It was my own little personal protest against the politically correct people of this world. While I understand that sometimes you must be diplomatic, I believe that it is wrong to say things that you wouldn't normally say just because you have been bullied into it by others.

A stiff "Season's Greetings" sounds like something Thurston Howell III from Gilligan's Island would wish upon people and not actually mean it.  While "Merry Christmas" sounds joyous to me.  When someone says "Merry Christmas" to you, it always sounds heartfelt.  And when it gets right down to it, that is what this time of year is really all about.  It's practically impossible to say "Merry Christmas" without smiling.

But getting back to my little personal protest, I've found in the last month that when I tell a customer "Merry Christmas", most of them pause, smile and then say "Merry Christmas" right back.  A few just say "thank you" and move along.  Some seem surprised but most of the surprise seems pleasant. But one reaction was priceless.  About 3 weeks ago, I said "Merry Christmas" to a gentleman who came in to pay for his insurance just as he was opening the door to leave the office.  He stopped dead in his tracks.  The stunned look on his face made me think that he might say something mean to me in response but then he got a huge smile on his face and said very loudly, "Thank You"!  Then he proceeded to tell me that I was the first person who had told him that this year and that he was so sick of people saying "Happy Holidays" that he couldn't stand it.

That experience felt so good that I doubled my efforts and began telling random people in stores, restaurants and even at the gas station "Merry Christmas".  And guess what....  Nothing but happy responses!!!!  People love to be told "Merry Christmas".  Here's the other thing, if you said "Happy Hanukkah", I would say "thank you"!  "Happy Hanukkah to you too!"  You know why?  Because my country was founded on some basic principles one of which is freedom of religion.  That means you can choose to be any religion that makes you happy and that's a pretty great thing. One of those other principles was freedom of speech which gives you the right to express your religion aloud.  It's not about trying to change someone's religion or push yours on them.  It's simply about wishing someone else happiness and that's what this time of year is all about.

So don't be afraid to wish someone a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" or even a "Happy Festivus" if that's what you're about (we'll have an airing of the grievances later).  Most people seem to like it and those who don't probably can't be made happy anyway.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A JOYOUS NEW YEAR!