Holiday fun!

Christmas (and Hannukah) are right around the corner. Wow! It certainly feels like this year has gone by so fast!

Normally I write a long heartfelt Holiday email/post and send it to everybody. I don't think I am going to do that this year; and if I do, I'll do it for New Year's. It seems to me like it would make more sense then.

Yesterday I went to finish my Christmas shopping. I failed miserably at it. Well, not really "miserably", but you know that there is a problem if you go Christmas shopping and then you put all the gifts under the tree and somebody notices that all the gifts are from you to you. HA!

That's exactely what I did. I went to buy Sarah a bag like the one I bought the other day, and the one bag they had was so cool that I kept it. I went to this other store to find something else for my mom, and they had this amber necklace that was so cool that I bought it for myself. Then I went to pick up the planner I had ordered for my mom and while I was there I bought myself a book.

And that was just yesterday! Last week I got myself a skirt, and yet another bag.

Then I wonder why I am broke.

People go on and on about how commercial and materialistic this Holiday is and to an extent I think it's true. I don't see any reason why anybody should get anything just because it is a religious Holiday; however, despite the evidence to the contrary, I like to give and I like to have a good reason to give something to someone. If perhaps today all the presents under the tree are for me, tonight they won't be.

I am not really religious. At the risk of sounding like the most horrible Catholic ever, I'll be the first to admit that interesting and depressing though I find the story of the life and death of Jesus to be, I don't believe it; however, if the celebration of it is what it takes for people to be a little nicer to each other, a little more thoughtful, and a little happier then I'm willing to overlook my disbelief. My favorite part of the Holidays is the extra kindness.

I look forward to spending quality time with my family and friends. And even though many of the most special people in my life I probably won't get to see, as usual I will carry them with me though perhaps these next few days I will think of them a little longer and hope that wherever they are, they are happy and well.

I am lucky. I love and am loved and I have a whole lot of gifts under the tree :)

I hope that wherever each of you are, that you have all the things that will bring you joy today and always.