You said you can't stand the hustle and bustle. Me, too. I despise it! What a scam the "establishment" has spawned in order to sell millions of nearly useless products that no one seems to need or want the rest of the year. Many Christians, and others, have rebelled against Halloween, I wonder why there has been no similar protest of "Xmas". (Xmas, not Christmas, because my guess is Jesus would be aghast at what has been done in his name.)

Xmas climaxes with the big gift opening ceremonies. We do it "for the children" who are insanely happy with the shower of gifts. That is happy from the time they begin to understand about age 4 until the time they figure out this is the annual opportunity to strong arm parents into spending money they often can't afford, about age 10.

What's left after that? A few teenage years of unabashed greed, then a lifetime of seasonal longing for the return of the childhood glee. Then more years of foisting the whole mess on the next generation.

It is all such a complicated and snarled up mess. I wish I could call a complete end to it in my domain. I have mostly managed to halt the gaudy decor of crappy cheap trinkets and lights. We still exchange a few gifts, but not many. I would rather give things that are truly needed throughout the year.

Oh, dear. I am at work and the boss walked in. Time to stop the ranting and try to look "busy".

<font color=blue>[b] Wherever you go, there you are[b]<font color=blue>