Aftermath

Once again, I survived the holiday. I actually enjoyed this one more than endured it. My lovely wife handled the parts I hate -most of the shopping, for example. This year we all agreed to keep gift giving to a moderate level. Nobody overdid it. Most of us have other things to do with our money. Yet the gifts that were exchanged were well thought out and appreciated. Nice.

Christmas really isn’t quite over. Some of my family will be joining my wife and I later in the week. When the kids grow up and get married, they have obligations to the spouse’s side of the family too. This is year some of them spend the actual day with the other side. It works out. Everyone was here for Thanksgiving. Next year we get everyone for Christmas, but some will spend Thanksgiving day away.

In my attempt to behave in a non-Grinch manner, I even accompanied my wife to her Christmas Eve church service. I’m not a member and have real issues with the minister. Heck, my wife has issues with the minister, but she expects to outlast him. I minded my manners, smiled at the good folk, sang the songs and shook the hands. My wife was happy to have me along, so I guess I can put up with it now and then. However, it’s tough to keep my tongue in my pocket.

My wife and I didn’t even exchange gifts. Our present to each other will be a trip to a huge used bookstore over in Vermont. That works for me.

Hope all my readers had the holiday they were hoping for.

Peace and Balance,

Sixbears