Christmas is about Jesus, the baby Jesus’ birth to be exact. So why does everyone get into a tizzy shopping for gifts? Why did my daughter’s day care teacher confront me about the lack of gifts given unto her by the parents? I am not a gift giver. My gift to that day care is faithfully paying “tuition” once a week. Besides, I don’t generally make a list of Christmas gifts to distribute to people I believe to have been good all year. I try to show appreciation throughout the year in small ways. And this is not the economy to drop blatant hints about gifts. Although she has since…

The tree was released by a Husky bolt cutter courtesy of Home Depot. Yes I did it, and they helped. Especially, when they accepted the return the following day. I consider it a bolt cutter loan, that I paid back in full. So my house began to look a lot like Christmas about a week ago on Sunday, Dec. 14. I calculated we could enjoy the tree at least 10 full days before the official holiday. That means it was worth the effort. But there was still something missing. Looking at my tree didn’t bring me tidings of comfort and joy. The white lights on a white cord were glaring…

Christmas time is near. I love this time of year!..The nip in the air, the comforting foods, the glow of the tree. But wait! My tree isn’t up yet! Traditionally, I prop this dominating figure up the day after Thanksgiving so that we can bask in its glory for at least a month. But this year, the ritual has been delayed. First, by the fact that I was not geographically present. I was hundreds of miles away from home working on my mother’s tree. And it is a fragrant fir – beautifully adorned with blue and silver ornaments. My artificial, reusable tree; however, is in captivity at the moment. It’s…