Festivus

Today is my half birthday, which might explain why I woke up so cheery this morning (to David's chagrin). Or maybe I'm happy today because the holiday spirit is finally hitting me. Okay, it might be a bit late to mail those holiday cards, and apart from one relatively mass produced holiday present, I've obtained virtually nothing for gift giving. But still, there's a crispness in the air, blinking lights everywhere, and old friends coming to town.

Winter solstice and yuletide greetings to you all! Technically the solstice is tomorrow, but I wanted to give you time to prepare--get the fire ready, get some evergreens into your home, hang the mistletoe, etc. Reading up on various winter solstice and Christmas traditions (whether they are your own or not) can be a nice antidote to the consumerized frenzy that overtakes much of the US after Thanksgiving. After all, the shorter days and ancient celebrations that marked this time of year are the real "reason for the season", so go ahead and embrace those roots. It's something we can all share in, and sharing is nice, right?

Too often people stress out preparing for this holiday break--the travel, the shopping, the family togetherness. That won't go away, so I hope you find time in the day to look for simple pleasures and enjoy them...a nice warm cup of cocoa with marshmallows, the clear ringing of bells, the fluffy trim on Santa's hats, the smell of fresh cut evergreens. Give the gift of your complete presence and a genuine smile. It's environmentally friendly, costs you nothing, and is good for your health. Mmm, I'm officially ready for winter.

(P.S. Above image is one of many fabulous quotable things.)