TRADITION.

[Pumpkin_Man]

Regarding the artificial Christmas tree, I did not mean to come off like that was a bad thing, but to me, it seems to be incincere. My youngest niece has the tradidion you described. She can't wait to pull out the tree every day after Thanksgiving. For me, going out to get our Christmas tree, the smell of the pine, the decorating, are all part of the TRADITION that I was raised with and grew to love. Artificial trees, gas fireplaces, and the like strike ME PERSONALY as being "fake" or "incincere." That by no means that those things actualy ARE "fake" or "incincere." As the old saying goes: "You can't miss something you never had." If you were never introduced to the tradition of going out for a real tree, then you don't really miss anything when the artificial tree is pulled out. I was not introduced to having an artificial tree until I was in my mid 20s. I was very disappointed, because one of my most BELOVED traditions was ended that year, but I don't hold it against my mom and younger sister for deciding to do that.

At this point, I will concede that all of the evil things mentioned, such as the mutilation of women in Moslum cultures and other opressive practices are in fact, traditions as defined by the dictionary definition. I realize that there is a whole lot more to tradition then carving jack o'lanterns or putting up a Christmas tree. I just HATE LIKE HELL to think of something so beloved associated with practices so horible and wrong. I do agree, that a little girl is every bit as much a blessing to a family as a little boy. I love my nieces and my nephews. My brothers AND my sisters, my uncles AND my aunts. My father AND my mother.

Also, I do realize that while the basic Christmas, Thanksgiving or Halloween traditions are pretty much the same, there are a multitude of variations on those themes as there are people. New traditions? Hey, more power to you on those. I, myself, started a new tradition for my Birthday in July of 2007. Instead of the usual cake, presents or "Christmas in miniature," I have decided that my Birthday would be better suited as a "Thanksgiving in Miniature." That's a MAJOR departure from the standard Birthday tradition of blowing out candles on a cake, making a wish and receiving Birthday presents. Next July, because it's my 50th Birthday, I am going to have a Thanksgiving themed barbecue for my brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews to GIVE THANK for 50 years of life and all the other wonderful blessings given me over those years. As far as I know, I'm the ONLY one who celebrates a Birthday that way, but that's the way I like it at my age.

So PLEASE don't think that I am criticizing or admonishing anyone else for not practicing TRADITION the exact same way I do. I would NEVER want to see any of you go without your Birthday cake, presents, and party with the singing of the "Happy Birthday" song. I would NEVER want anyone who's enjoyed the setting up of an artificial Christmas tree all of their lives, to give that up, simply because I don't get into it. On the contrary, more power to you. All I ask, is that I be given the same consideration. I'm almost 50. I have been observing my beloved TRADITIONS all of my life. I tend to dislike change, even though some times it's necessary. Am I a sentimental old bitty? Perhaps I am, but at my age, I think I have a right to be. So do you. You have as much right to be as traditional or non traditional as you wish to be, and I will never dislike you, dispute it's validity, or even say "boo" about it.

Mike

[MacPhantom]

I'm not so sure the Chinese have it all together wrong with the selective child birth thing, I have seen a lot of people in this country (US) that have too many kids they cant take care of, kids they shouldnt take care of, and too many people asking the Gov to help with their kids they cant take care of......maybe there is a middle ground.[/color]

Socialist.

[MacPhantom]

As a side note, I should tell you Mike that all the traditions you've listed that you practice and enjoy sound pretty A-Okay to me! It sounds like they bring you quite a lot of joy, and if that isn't what life is all about, I don't know what is!

[adrian]

kit kats bring me joy

[MacPhantom]

Me too, Adrian.... but not as much as they used to before I watched that marathon on TLC last evening.... "Half Ton Dad", followed by "Half Ton Mom", followed by two hours of "Half Ton Teens", and then capped off with "650lb Virgin". It was cold and pouring down rain today, but I still had to run.

I think I'll have a rice cake and a carrot stick for supper.

[Spookymufu]

Socialist.

hush you.........

[adrian]

i just got back from running so i'll have a kit kat or two lol nah... i've got 25 pounds to cut in 2 weeks............... ugh

[MacPhantom]

25lbs in two weeks?!?!? How does one manage that, short of losing a limb?

[adrian]

i've cut 4 in one day ..... because of the holiday/lazy on my diet... i have to do it the un healthy way one meal a day (morning) of just one can of tuna with no add ins

[Andybev01]

Ah...people who think that they will live forever.

You do know that the time you gain on your life by dieting and exercising is all used up with dieting and exercising, right?

I intend to eat and drink anything I want to excess because I don't believe in reincarnation

[NeverMore]

Ah...people who think that they will live forever.

What's really scary is that a lot of researchers think so also. Some are thinking that
mankind will achieve near-immortality in 20 years or so. Of course, this tech will only be
available to the rich.

http://io9.com/5414151/near+immortality ... ts-hope-so

[Andybev01]

Only if they can promise me that I will also be mentally alert.

[Spookymufu]

yeah, who wants to live to be 150 and wear a diaper and not know where you are??

[DemonSlayerMau]

I hope there were no hard feelings.
I've had real trees before in the past, but for someone with seasonal allergies like me (for me it's more like 24/7 365/year) the fake tree is more practical, and in today's economy more cost effective, and I think it's kind of a shame that the tree dies after Christmas.
Now, I'm in no way saying you should give up your tradition of having a real tree Pumpkin man, by all means, have a real one. The real ones do have a certain splender to them, and I most definately love the idea of having a real fireplace. An old fashioned log cabin out in the woods would probably be my ideal dream home with a nice wood stove or fireplace.
The point I was trying to make however, is that Christmas isn't any less fake if you use an artificial tree, to me it's having a giving spirit, celebrating the birth of the savior, and coming together as a family. What kind of tree one has isn't the focus of my Christmas. Real tree, fake tree, no tree, Christmas is about giving, it's about seeing someone's eyes light up when they open your present. I get more joy out of giving presents than getting. It's an exciting feeling. I think Christmas is one of my favorite holidays because it has such a warm fuzzy feeling and gives me an excuse to give people presents. It's also the day we celebrate God's greatest gift to us, a savior. I've always believed Christmas had something magical about it.
Of course, I love Halloween too. Halloween's more of a let's have fun and make fun of death holiday. Christmas is more of a celebration. Come to think of it, I really think I love these two holidays equally, and love the contrast between the two.

[NeverMore]

yeah, who wants to live to be 150 and wear a diaper and not know where you are??

They say they'll be able to make old people young again. Everyone will stay their peak
age. Do a google on Aubry de Grey. He thinks the first person to live to be 1000 years old
is alive today and is probably about 60 years old. He also says people will still die. There
will always be accidents and risk takers. The technology exists now, just have to perfect it
and get past the moral objections.

I don't like it. At least not till we can start shipping excess population off to other planets.