and then I cried...

So, the holidays have been taking their toll on us this year. Our retail employer of choice gets a double dose of VDP this season. Now that Pete is on christmas break, he has been working in the stock room, while I rock it out front with the customers. Bottom line.....people are mean around the holidays. There's just no doubt about it, we have forgotten why we celebrate. Lots of hours in a customer service environment, where most people are not-so-nice, can take it's toll. The other day, I was totally pushed over the edge. I hadn't even made it into work yet, but was on my way. Parking at the shopping center is indescribable. You really have to get in touch with your inner gorilla warfare agent, and take no prisoners. Because that innocent looking soccer mom in the mini van behind you WILL steal your spot and have her seven kids out of the car and into the building faster than you can say "tall eggnog latte."

I had thankfully found a spot without any aggression or blinker wars. I pulled in feeling happy with my luck, and had just put my car into park. And then I got rear-ended. In a parked car. By a woman in some crazy furry boots. And she was driving a jetta. I don't know why this is significant, but I feel that it is.

Blerg.

So I get out of my parked car to survey the damage. It really didn't look like much, just a bunch of mud and snow, and I just didn't have the energy to get all head-shakin', finger snappin' on the lady, so I gracefully said it was no big deal. Really, it was no big deal. She didn't need to be told twice, got back into her car, and proceeded to park next to me, without hitting me this time. I headed into Target where I needed to make a quick return. Heading through the double doors, I could feel some sort of crazy presence hot on my heels. Sure enough, as I approach the returns line, Jetta driving boot lady comes tearing around me , and CUTS ME IN LINE! Then turns around a gives me a little smile like, 'how funny we're both in the return line.....'. Yes boot lady, that is funny. Also, I feel like I might have whiplash and back pain.....funny, right?!?!?

SERIOUSLY??!!! You're gonna play cutsies with the woman whose car you JUST hit???
I was too flabbergasted to do anything, so I simply stewed in silence, took care of my return, and then hurried in to work.

And then I cried.......which is embarrassing because people saw. And then I had weird "cry-eyes" for the next 2 hours, which, surprisingly did NOT help me sell pinecone swags and reindeer stocking holders.

Today is my first day off since "the incident", and boy did I need it. Pete woke up early and went to work for a few hours which is so cool of him. I woke up to find a pile of pj's and underwear right outside our bedroom door, because he didn't want to wake me up while he got ready.  (swoon)

Then I turned on the fire, and saw our little nativity scene looking just as pretty as ever. I turned on our christmas tree and took a few minutes to look at our mish-mash collection of ornaments. The best ones are from our childhood! I have never taken a ballet class in my life, yet somehow when I was young, I picked out 3 different ballerina ornaments throughout the years. I look out our windows and see the lake covered in snow, and finally it comes back to me. I LOVE christmas! I really really do. I love the magic, and the anticipation, the sparkle, the lights, and fun of all of it. It's totally worth it.

as long as I'm at home and there are no lines to stand in. ;)