Holiday Thinking Becomes Introspective

So the new hard drive is in DH's computer, a new shredder is in use in my home (he burned the old one out last week) and my pie reservation for my annual Candy Cane Pie has been made. The clock is ticking and I'm running out of time before next week's holiday. How are you doing on your holiday preparations?

Some folks take holiday prep to extremes...

I often become contemplative during this time of the year. One of the things I wonder about is why people seem to be so caring and so generous with others in December, but not in June or July? I know that isn't true across the board because there are fabulous people who are kind and generous throughout the year. But December is push time for charities and others because they know that people will dig into their wallets faster and pull out greater amounts in December than at any other time of the year.

In our part of the country, bell ringers had better bundle up. This
gentleman is from a bit farther south - no snow blanketing the boxes next
to him - but he's still appropriately bundled up and warm. 

I fall to this pit too, sometimes. For instance, I hear the Salvation Army bell ringers and feel a desire to push money into their red kettles, even though I don't really like or support that particular charity. Then I steel myself to walk by, reminding myself that I give throughout the year to those organizations whose work I truly support. No money donated. I feel like a grinch, even though I'm not. Holiday guilt and angst has arrived on schedule.

So I guess the boys get to play with all the cool stuff while the
girls get stuck playing with dolls and in the kitchen?
What's Up With This?!!!!

I suspect holiday angst echoes through parents trying everything to get their kids what they want for Christmas, even though the desires of children are more fluid than a river and many of those items will be forgotten within a few weeks (maybe even hours) after possession. I grew up in a home without a lot of extra money. I usually got one or two gifts for the holiday season and more often than not they were a book or an album of music. I probably still own those gifts because I adore my books and my music collection. Those were good gifts - gifts that were used time and time again. Some of today's desired toys? Well ... I suspect they will quickly be broken and forgotten.

I love giving books for holiday gifts. They're just about
the perfect gift. 

I think the most important gifts I received from the holiday seasons of years past was abundant love and simple human dignity. The fact that I had parents who loved me was a gift beyond measure and certainly no guarantee when I was born and abandoned. I had a safe childhood, I had a good education, and when I went off the rails as many kids do, there were people there to help me back onto the tracks. I feel fortunate in so many ways and I guess that, too, is something of the holiday for me. I love thinking about my friends - long-time and new - cyber and physical. I feel fortunate in them and in my life. In the land of memories and introspection, I'm pretty happy with how my life turned out. There were so many directions it could have gone, so many wrong turns not taken.

Life is really pretty damned wonderful. 

Now to get those last few stocking stuffers purchased for DH's stocking... Happy Thursday to all!