A while back, I saw some silly meme on the interwebz that said if you put “and shit” at the end of almost anything, it sounds gangsta:

“I’m rollin’ a blunt and shit”

“I’ll pop a cap in yo mama and shit”

or in my world:

“I’ve got a cold and shit”

“I”m bringing your pan back over and shit”

“Pass that gravy and shit”

So today, I’m here to discuss Thanksgiving, Christmas…and shit.

I’ve always been a big fan of this holiday.  From my childhood memories of (very few functional) Thanksgivings – to being the contributor or the master chef of my own festivities – I love the idea of a house full of people, kids playing, the smells of butter, onions, celery, turkey, pie, etc., the soothing sounds of football on in the background, a warm fire…. that feeling of togetherness and love…..and shit.

As I’m currently in a serious relationship with a therapist – I really didn’t think much about his schedule this week, seeing that my own was pretty much a clean slate with little work involved.  His, on the other hand, has been back to back appointments daily – going as late as 7 or 8 o’clock in the evenings.  Ah… yes… family time.  How could I fail to see how many people would require a good dose of therapy the week of spending “quality time” with their family?! I may not see my own during the holidays, but I can guarantee you that if I did – my once a month would turn into once a week… and shit.

Personally, I don’t have much family to speak of.  Not in the way of holidays, anyway.  Yes, there are many of them scattered across the country (primarily in the south), but few with which I have spent holiday time with on any level at all.  This may sound a bit sad to some of you – but having been single for the better part of 8 years – it has made me very marketable in that no one has to put up with any crazy bullshit except from their own families.

Family and shit = therapy and shit.

I’m SO pro-therapy.  If you find the right one, it can make all the difference in the world. I know people who have attempted to go with no result.  They poo-poo the idea of therapy because it didn’t work for them.  Therapists don’t come in a one-size-fits-all box. You’ve got to find your person – the one that you can be yourself, fully and completely. That being said, if any of you goes to therapy or have gone, and have not been COMPLETELY honest with your therapist or yourself – just save your money.  You’re not doing anyone any favors here.  Just pony back up to the bar, order a shot and forget about it for a while.  Cheaper and much more fun that being honest with yourself or a stranger…. and shit.

Thanksgiving and Christmas…. two of what are considered to be the most joyous times of the year here in the USA – are far from it in many cases.  What is the happiest time for many, turns out to be the most depressing season of all for the rest.  I have an analogy I like to use when discussing people in general, that I like to call “Highland Park Christmas”.  If you are unfamiliar, this is a very upscale, FABULOUS, and wealthy part of Dallas, Texas.  Jerry Jones lives there…. need I say more?   Anyway, each year my kids and I go down there to ogle the lights, the multi-million dollar homes, the clip-clopping of the horse-drawn carriages.  It’s easy to look at these stunning residences whose carport Christmas trees are bigger and more expensive than all the trees I have ever had put together, with the window coverings to their homes opened and welcoming, the occasional human seen walking around inside…. and think to ourselves “Wow!  I could live like that!”.  So beautiful and welcoming on the outside for the whole world to see!

BUT…..

The dad has a mistress in all the states/countries he travels to for work, the youngest kid is a cutter, the oldest one a confused, possible transgender, who sells molly on the side, and the mom is doing Jesus – the pool boy, not the prophet.  Sure does look pretty on the outside.  A complete and utter shit-show on the inside.

What I’m trying to say here folks, is that what you see isn’t always what you get. Embrace YOUR shit.  Don’t let the Norman Rockwell depiction of what this time of year is supposed to look like, cloud what your soul wants and needs, based on the outer misconceptions of what is really going on….. a shit show…and shit.  Spend it with your grandma, enjoy dinner with friends instead of crazy family, go feed hungry people, sit on your couch alone and binge watch Netflix while eating a Marie Callendar’s turkey pot pie, go buy a molly from that kid in Highland Park and forget about it all together – I really don’t care what you do! Just enjoy your Thanksgiving, Christmas and or therapy… and shit.  Your way.