I am trying so hard to enjoy this season and make it special. Every darn year it's the same thing...trying so hard to make the holidays nice and by New Year's Eve I'm entirely unglued. I went to the very crowded, bustling grocery store this morning and very nearly had a melt-down in one of the isles. The loud music being interrupted by loudspeaker announcements, shopping carts everywhere, weary-looking employees trying to be friendly (I felt bad for them), customers all over the place, sick and crying little kids (poor things)....all of it became entirely overwhelming. I'm now trying to calm down. Breathe. Make my day more normal. I want to just crawl in bed and sleep.