~~~waaaah~~~

I would hate to be the one to tell a believer
that Santa is now dead to the world...ggg...

I shrugged off the claws of commercialism this
year and did not go to the stores and malls.
I had warned my family and friends of the shift
ahead of time and took most of the pressure off
and the resentment that signs of Christmas marketing
were showing up in August.

It worked. I did the shopping I did online at my
own leisure and without any of the psychic drainage
of fighting crowds. I made special cards and wrote
letters to connect with those who are ones I usually
use Christmas time to connect with. The same with many
friends who take that time to connect with me and
it seems I was on the phone quite a bit over the
last few days. It felt good and while I did feel the pull
of the subliminal *buy me* bargains even in the grocery
store, but I resisted and stuck with my dinner plan
and my gifting. I was remembering this morning of our
old family tradition of focusing on making gifts and
will perhaps suggest that for next year as those
are my favorite kind to gift and get.

Like Boem said, it really is a choice we make and
for all the reasons you also recounted~~children,
loved ones, decorations, and true love...those are
the reasons you celebrate the season. Keep what you
like and jettison the rest. I did. I am sure none
of the big money changers missed me. I did not miss
them. I admit, I would have liked more egg nog but
the store was out. I do have a bag of fudge the
neighbors gave me which I will have to wait the
standard length of time and then toss. I enjoyed
the gifts I received which were ones I would not
have bought for myself and the luxury of being
gifted them brought me much cheer.

So while I support your movement back to values
which make us all *feel* the spirit of Christmas,
AND putting Christ back in Christmas, I hope that
you do not go so far as to become Dr. Grinch and
cancel the parts that are the best ones...

blessings and best wishes,
Zoe

-_-

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