EX-mas

Christmas is upon us and with all the hype of the necessity of gift buying also comes the relentless advertising from all the jewelry companies.  It starts of with the basic "Diamonds are Forever...show your love...blah blah blah...this CHRISTMAS season", but continues to "Show your girlfriend she means more to you this CHRISTMAS season...blah blah engagement rings...".  What is it with Christmas and trying to guilt poor guys into thinking this is the time that you MUST propose marriage or profess your love?  I understand the romantic capacity of the cold weather - lots of nights indoors trying to keep each other warm.  Why guilt everyone else into your selfishness of trying to pack everything into one day.  Getting engaged at Christmas is stealing the thunder and joy of the holidays from everyone else.  We are all now obligated to ooohh and aaahhh the ring, ask to hear the story and all the details, and ask if you've thought of a date for the wedding.  The holidays are stressful enough as it is.  Now, I know I am a single girl, please don't take this as me being bitter about it, but I am not really wired like the average girl.  I really hate the propaganda that advertising plays.  It really does work - you hear the commercials enough and like Pavlov's dogs become conditioned to what they are telling you to do.  I want to start hearing jewelry ads that say "Hey, make him your EX this CHRISTMAS, then you don't have to buy him a present and you can buy what you really want this year."