Hallmark Dearest
I just got home from a failed attempt at penetrating the biggest mall in this island (Plaza las Américas, of course, the center of everyyyything). I wanted to get a rare orchid for my mother: it was an dark purple plant with leaves that slightly shimmered as if gold dust had been sprinkled on them, a beauty! But it was an EPIC FAIL, mainly because I couldn’t even get a parking spot.
At 11:30, Plaza las Américas was already bursting with traffic that complied with X-mas-grade expectations. People were “hunting” after more intelligent shoppers that were already done and leaving Hell. It felt like trying to get your own buffalo among a tribe of seasoned huntsmen: intimidating, tiresome, frustrating. I gave up after half an hour, called Mom to let her know she would get her gift a bit later than most, got the distinct flavor of disappointment in the tone of her response… which got me thinking …
If I’ve forsaken St. Valentine’s because – REALLY! – why would I want to celebrate my own relationships at tandem with the rest of the world? … then, why do I subject myself to the imposition of a fucking Hallmark holiday to celebrate my love for my own mother the same freaking day everyone else does? Why do we – the same ones that have successfully unshackled ourselves from the obligatory X-mas, St. Valentine’s, and other miscellaneous fabricated festivities – insist on behaving like brainless sheep only for our own mothers’ sakes? Is our love for our mothers so generic that we agree on celebrating it like most other people do?
And in the case of people like me, people whose mothers insist on celebrating all things Hallmark-Lifetime-Precious Moments: why do we cave in anyways? Why do we agree on giving the goddamned holiday the importance it doesn’t deserve?
It’s a holiday – like most others – in which, at the best of cases, it creates a conundrum in couples and other composite families as to where to spend the day, and for how much amount of time. In the worst of cases, it creates chaos, destruction and death (yes, a bit exaggerated, but not all that off). I’m starting to think holidays are not the best idea when it comes to spending time with your family. It’s usually a bit of a stressful time, and it’s best to stay away from them all and keep sanity levels all around.
Maybe next year, I’ll let them know well before time that I won’t keep bowing to Evil Hallmark and its cheesy ways.
Totally appropriate Mother's Day card from SomeEcards.com
