Holidays spirit

Most communities are celebrating holidays around this time of the year - Channukah, Christmas, Kwanza, the Islamic New Year (this year, it was Dec. 18, which starts the year 1431) and only God knows what other festivities are being celebrated. If nothing, one celebrates the end of a year gone by and welcomes the new one with high hopes and expectations. My concern is the spirit of these holidays. I go out of the house and I see people rushing, cutting you off on the road or the parking lot, trying to get to the only spot, not realizing that they are putting others safety in jeopardy. They swear at you, they disregard the parking lot 15-km speed limit. Is this the spirit of the holidays? Wow! What a Society we live in today?

The other week, I was at the Lindt Chocolate store on Brunswick Bouelvard (what a pleasure to be there, surrounded by all those goodies and friendly staff). I was in a rush myself, as my husband was in Lakeshore General Hospital recovering from a heart attack and wanted to treat the helpful and friendly hospital staff. I ran to the store during my lunch hour and was looking to buy the best kind for this treat. At the cash there was a gentleman (I wonder why I add 'gentle' in front of the 'man' as he was anything but....) he who was fumbling around in his wallet, taking long to pay for his purchase, I took this opportunity, (mind you, knowing very well that I was intruding on his time, nevertheless wanted to get back to the hospital as soon as I could, thinking that by the time he would have his money out, I would be done), I asked the girl at the cash where I could find certain kind of chocolates. He lashed out at me in a nasty tone saying "Can you wait till I pay?" I excused myself, waited and wished him to have a happy Christmas. That did not stop him from giving me a stare and saying "learn to live in society". Ah, well sir! I could teach you something about society myself, if you would listen!

The spirit of holidays should be to wish food, shelter and clothes for everyone, no matter who they are and which "society" they belong to. There is only one society anyway - humanity. What are we humans coming to?