People are disturbed by our lack of Christmas spirit.

"So," the neighbor asks. "Have y'all put up your tree yet?"

"Oh, no," Adam says. "We're not doing a tree this year."

"No tree?"

It's my turn. "Nope. No tree."

"Why not?" The neighbor's getting a little edgy now.

We shrug because, really? With everything going on right now, we don't want a tree. "Just didn't feel like it," I say.

And I swear, the neighbor steps in front of his children as if to protect them from the evil Scrooges. Another five seconds and he'd report us to APD for being pod people.

"We might do stockings?" I offer, more as a peace offering than actual truth. It seems to work.

But other people are just as weirded out. I keep teasing a friend at work that I "horrified" him when he asked about the tree. But the face! All sour apples and sucked in cheeks. Totally awesome.

Truth is, I am just not feeling the holiday season this year. Target's packed and Cottonwood's a nightmare and I'm scared of opening that January PNM bill. I just don't feel like putting the energy into a Dickens-y, Ye Merry Olde English Christmas.

Boxing Day sales, though? All about that.