Tis the season to be jolly? Even if you look grumpy?

Tis the season to be jolly; not crabby, not stingy, not selfish, not self-absorbed and certainly not grumpy. Who loves a grump at Christmas time? No one!

This is the time of year when “Dear Santa” letters begin to pop up on the family refrigerator. This is the period of love, thankfulness, charity and goodwill. As men and women drive to work, songs of cheer blast from the car radios.

Shopping malls resound the glory of every Christmas song known to all from far and near. Regardless of all this festive spirit, in the quiet of a corner, in the protective shroud of an over-stuffed worn-out recliner, there sits a grump.

We all know this grump. We talk of our children’s plans for the future and grumpy has them in a detention center before their first college tuition bill comes due. We talk of an upcoming wedding and grumpy is positive the union will end in divorce before the first marital casserole cools. We announce a pregnancy of very close friends and that couple is lucky to have time to order a car seat before grumpy has them pegged as too young and totally incapable of raising a puppy much less a baby. Heaven forbid anyone gets sick around grumpy.

Grumpy doesn’t go to the doctor because that’s where you find out you have an illness that you spend your life savings to treat. Why pay for the good doctor’s vacation and fancy cars? Death is just around the next corner for a grump.

Think about heading downtown, uptown, across town, in the coming weeks. Finding a parking spot is going to drive even the calmest person crazy. That’s a blessing about our small town. Park once and head to accomplish your one-stop shopping.

Stop back at your car when your hands get full to drop off your gifts. We all have done it. It feels great to be productive on a shopping trip.

Now think about grumpy. Grumpy is the kind of person that hates to shop and Grumpy sours on all others and most certainly hates the cheerful consumer. Grumpy heads directly to the one store that has exactly what is needed.

When these two fated shoppers meet at an open parking space, hell has seen no fury like what the grump will display and the tactics to be used to secure this spot.

There will be the sound of quick acceleration, the honking of the horn and everyone’s favorite, the threatening screams from the rolled down window of Grump’s car.

A reddened-face, sweat on the brow, an embarrassed spouse, and a strobe light on the hood that warns all others to back off for a Grump has taken control of the lot, are all the sights we need to officially call it the beginning of the Christmas season.

Maureen Wolcott-Mathewson, owner of Tender Loving Care By Maureen, located at 5-7 Lake St. in downtown Owego, has witnessed this scene from afar. Posed with a watchful eye from the cozy corner in her shop, she is prepared for the best of the shoppers.

While Grumps don’t scare her or take any cheer from her holiday spirit, she is well aware of their presence. To date, Wolcott-Mathewson has had only the happiest and most cheerful of holiday shoppers.

Whether shopping or browsing, she is ready for the season to get fully underway. She lends advice for a hard-to-get person on our list, and she sits quietly while we dig, sift and rumble through her carefully displayed merchandise. During this writers visit to the store, Maureen helped a customer find the perfect gift from her Grumpy Cat merchandise.

Tender Loving Care By Maureen has a large selection of these favorite collectibles.  Stop by and check out her cute array of pillows, slippers, key rings, mugs, t-shirts and such all displaying that adorable Grumpy Cat face. Warning! It will make you smile!

You see, Maureen is in retail while Grumps are in a world of their own where patience and empathy don’t amount to much. If only all shoppers came to the game ready to check everything off their gift list. If only all Grumps could make it through one more shopping ordeal without biting off the heads of innocent store clerks. If only the season could be filled with the true spirit of Christmas. The spirit that many grumps don’t know well; the spirit of freely giving and not expecting anything in return.

It’s not about the presents, it’s not about how much money we will spend, but it is certainly about how we feel and process everything as the season surrounds us. From gift-giving, church services, and time spent with family and friends to the spiritual wholesomeness of truly caring and being present in the moment, it is this true spirit of the season that we need to see.

So shoppers, please beware of the Grumps. No matter what we say or how many times we screw up our face as if saying we have never ever seen or heard anything grumpier, the Grumps will try to take you down. Let us help the grumps learn the lesson they need to learn. It is far better on our souls to be kind, compassionate and caring. May the little bit of grumpiness in us all be laid to rest this season.

This writer wishes only peace, love and happiness as you venture out to deal with the season. May your shopping days be warm enough to be comfortable while navigating the streets and may your purchases delight all who are lucky to have received your gifts.