I know my family’s been in the States for nearly 40 years, but Mum enjoys hosting a Boxing Day brunch. I generally spend Christmas and Boxing Day with them and use the brunch as an excuse to get together with my best friend whose in town visiting her relatives. It’s Boxing Day. the day after Christmas. I realize most Americans haven’t heard of it, but it’s a nice excuse to get together with friends and it lets me reserve Christmas Day for spending time with my family with no rushing about visiting people.
Here’s my complaint. Far too many people I know, including my best friend’s husband, who I’ve known for over 20 years make the same, dumb jokes every year about Boxing Day. I love him dearly, and I know how much he loves her, but the jokes about boxing, wrestling, and other sports, not to mention the refences to boxing gloves. My gentleman friend, who I love dearly, has been known to do the same thing, as do coworkers, etc. I’ve been hearing these jokes since I was a kid and it’s getting old. It’s a nice holiday, ok? It beats braving the crowds at the shopping mall or, worse, being the clerk facing the crowds at the shopping mall which I’ve had to do a few times. I spent Monday afternoon enjoying good conversation and the company of good friends as did my parents. I spent Monday evening enjoying the company of another couple of good friends. I got to exchange boxes containing presents with an old friend who I don’t get to see that often since we live 200 miles apart. No gloves, no sports, etc. were involved.
I know my best friend’s husband and my gentleman friend don’t mean any harm and they’re just trying to be funny, but, as I pointed out to the gentleman, there are times when it goes on so long it feels like it’s straying over the line into “making fun of the foreigner” and I had my fill of that when I was a kid. Do I really have to explain what Boxing Day is every year, even to a man I’ve known for over 20 years? Do I really have to put up with the same, stale jokes and feel like a very pleasant day is being mocked as a quaint, English custom?
Oh, I know you folks. I realize I’ve opened myself up to a whole slew of bad tp atrocious jokes, and I’m looking forward to the funny ones. On the other hand, could some of you please spare just a little sympathy? Pretty please? I’ll settle for good ideas for similar jokes I can make about an American holiday. Groundhog Day and Flag Day come to mind, but I’m sure the wits of the SDMB can do better, as might some of the half-wits!
CJ