I've never like the holiday season. I know it stems from my childhood. It was always depressing because of my parents. They were both alcoholics, and were usually out drinking on Christmas Eve, which is when we ALWAYS had our Christmas, so we kids had to wait until they got back from the bar in order to celebrate Christmas. It was usually 2-3 or maybe 4am in the morning. By that time, I was so depressed, as were my sisters that it certainly wasn't any fun.

It was the same every single year. As a kid, I remember waiting in the window for them to come driving up the street -- but they never came until early morning.

Then when I got married, my husband was more like a drill sergeant -- which I didn't know beforehand, and I had to account for every single penny spent at Christmas - plus I had to buy for HIS family. He wouldn't do any shopping. It's just never been a holiday I felt like celebrating.

The real meaning of Christmas has been lost thru the years.