I can sympathize on a much lower level. I love the holidays, but it does seem like bad things kind of pile up this time of year -- deaths in the family, that kind of thing. I try to take some time every day to actually think about the religious significance (to me, anyway) of the season. It's a nice break from the constant shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc. that occupies so much of my time for the next couple of months.

And, yeah, it is starting earlier every year. Eventually, I think, the "Christmas" season is going to start on Oct. 31st immediately after the kids change out of their costumes. (Just like the back-to-school sales keep starting earlier and earlier...the kids are barely out of school when they start these sales to begin with.)