Is This Asking Too Much!?!?

Photos by JC

We had a great, calm, fun-filled Thanksgiving Dinner at our friend’s house this year…

But I’m remembering other Holidays, Vacations, and Special Occasions of ours in the past…

So, in anticipation of the upcoming Merry Christmas get-togethers…

I feel the need to vent!!

I like “NICE” on Holidays, Vacations, and Special Occasions!!!

I want EVERYONE to be NICE…

Talk NICE!

And to be on their BEST Behavior!!

Why get together if everyone is going to “air their dirty laundry…”

Be grouchy…

Judgmental…

Snotty…

Impatient…

Intolerant of others’ routines…

Negative…

Condescending…

Arrive late…

Or leave early…

Mope around…

Be moody…

Create tension…

For goodness sake…

Don’t make me thank God every day..

That I don’t have to live with you…

And, if I do live with you…

Don’t make me thank God every day…

That I have you to go to places with…

But, that I can go by myself, if I want to…

Please everyone…

Make me want to spend time with you…

Make me happy to see you!

To BE with you!

“Put yourself under…”

As one of my family members used to say…

When I was a young adult…

Meaning…

THINK OF OTHERS FIRST!!!!

Above yourself!!

Before yourself!

This equals:

JOY!

Jesus…Others…You!

In that order!

A Holiday, Vacation, or Special Occasion…

Is supposed to be NICE…

FUN!!!

HAPPY!

LOVING!

LIVELY!

FESTIVE!

It’s not a time for “BLAH” as usual…

Mundane…

Boring…

Or, your opportunity to bark at people…

And, not the time for ranting about your least favorite things…

But, it IS about being with your most favorite people!!

In this special way…

At this special time…

To enjoy this special moment…

Together!

Laughing, loving, and sharing…

Talk about controversial issues over coffee on a normal day…

Rehash heated family issues with a trusted counselor…

Not at the dinner table!

It makes me nauseous…

Or makes me have “agita” as we Italians say! Ha!

Interesting fact from “The Word Detective”…

thehttp://www.word-detective.com/121800.html

“‘Agita’ is not a standard Italian word, and linguists are not certain where came it from. One possible source is the Italian word “agitare’ (‘to agitate’ or “‘to trouble”‘, which in turn came from the Latin ‘agitare,’ which meant ‘to stir up.’ To be ‘agitato’ in Italy is to be very excited, and a musical score marked ‘agitato’ is intended to be played at a frenzied pace. But it’s also possible that the source is ‘acido’ (pronounced ‘AH-chee-do’), Italian for ‘stomach acid,’ which then possibly became ‘agita’ (‘AH-jih-ta’) over time. Whatever the source, ‘agita’ seems to have arrived in New York with Italian immigrants around the turn of the century, and has been in constant use, especially in places like New York City, ever since.”