It seems like some people have a hard time letting go of the past. Perhaps they just can’t find it, in their regular sized hearts, to forgive and trust the odd looking green beast in a Santa Claus suit who once stole Christmas from a town of innocents.
As he has every year for the past decade, The Grinch held his annual toy drive to collect presents for needy children. Once again, not a single gift was donated to the cause. Honestly, though, do you blame people for not wanting to hand over a beautifully wrapped gift to a creature with a track record of running off with presents?
“It’s totally my fault,” The Grinch readily admits to this Modern Philosopher. “I made my bed and now I have to lie in it knowing that when I go down to the living room, I’m going to find the Christmas tree has no gifts under it.”
Why even bother holding the toy drive year after year if he knows that he’s going to leave with a sack bereft of toys? “It’s part of my penance,” he explains somberly. “Every year, I allow myself to hope that people will accept that I have changed. Believe me, the irony of it all isn’t lost on me. I hope for brightly wrapped presents under the tree and end up with absolutely nothing. It’s a penalty befitting a Grinch.”
The Grinch says that the public humiliation is all a part of the process for him, and he believes that people have a right to not trust him. “I know I’ll forever be scorned, and never fully welcomed back into polite society. That’s why I’ve never given up my cave…it’s easier to stay up there, in absolute solitude, meditating on my sins.”
He told me that occasionally Charlie Sheen will visit the cave and give him a pep talk about needing to force feed a new persona down the public’s throat. “Charlie means well, but what he went through, the things he did…they’re nowhere near as horrible as what I’ve done. I don’t think my life has an ‘Anger Management’ chapter in its future.”
After a little prodding and several glasses of spiked eggnog, my creepy green friend did admit that he anonymously sends several large money orders every Christmas to various charities. “I’m set for life with the money I’ve made from the rights to my story,” he slurred as he went for his eighth glass of nog. “I know they probably wouldn’t accept the money if they knew it was from me, so I send it anonomonominously (like I said, he was on glass number eight of the stuff). My heart, the one that can shrink and grow depending on my mood? Well, that heart grows eleventeen sizes every time I make one of those donations. I know that a deserving kiddo is going to wake up to a much happier Christmas. That’s all I need.”
I felt sorry for The Grinch, but I still didn’t run out and buy a present for this toy drive. In his condition, he probably would’ve tried to drink it.
So what do you think, Modern Philosophers? Can The Grinch’s sins ever be forgiven? Have we held a grudge against him for too long? Are we making him suffer for that horrible movie they made about him starring Jim Carrey? Would you ever welcome him into your home at Christmas? What exactly is a Grinch?
Send me your thoughts. I’m going to ponder on all this as I enjoy another glass of this wonderful eggnog. Let me know if you want the recipe…
The Return of the Modern Philosopher 
Oh man, you kill me… I love the Charlie Sheen part… it all makes sense now.
It always does once you apply some Deep Thought to the process… 😀
Not for me, but I like the theory.
I had forgiven the Grinch long, long ago… and then that movie, that hideousity you mentioned, came along… I just can’t give Grinchy another chance, after that one.
I wish they had just left the TV cartoon as the one and only version of The Grinch. Too bad..,
Being a great believer in the concept of the punishment fitting the crime I think the Grinch has been greatly defamed. The bio by Dr. Suess ( unauthorized I’m sure) and the cartoon were enough to let the world know of his deeds. The movie was just over the top sensationalism and Jim Carrey’s hammy performance …Grinch isn’t the only one who should hide in a cave.
The bio was authorized. That has how The Grinch has come to be so rich. Maybe he has suffered enough, but it’s up to society to accept him back into the ranks…
The poor guy has suffered enough, let it go people, let it go.
How come you didn’t being a present to the toy drive???
Just the title was enough to make me laugh with anticipation.
I hope the accompanying article lived up to the title’s hype. Thanks for reading… 😀
I like to think that there is always the possibility of redemption. In the Grinch’s case, who knows, maybe the surprise gift would be just the ticket.
We shall see. I’ll give everyone posted on the blog if there’s future news from the Grinch.
I thought at least little Betty Lou Who would be on his side?
She’s still suffering from PTSD from the events of that Christmas past. You should see all the tats and piercings on her. You wouldn’t even recognize her at this point…
Oy, so sad.
She is the Who with the Grinch tattoo….
Poor Grinch. Just as folks began to forgive, they had to adapt his biography into a movie “interpretation”, fanning the flames of anger and distrust. If I hadn’t been traveling so much during the holidays I would’ve sent him a gift. I’m also glad to hear he’s not taking advise from that Loony tune, Charlie.
Grinch just needs a break. Maybe next Christmas… 🙂
Maybe…
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