as it is every year

i don't want any presents for christmas. i never do. the thing i most desire is to be with family and friends. well, and to eat lots of food too! growing up in a poor household with three other siblings, christmas presents from my parents were never numerous. and both sets of grandparents gave little in material things. mostly, they gave money. my father's parents are tightwads to the best definition of that word. two dollars was the usual gift... and it was always given with a noticeable sense of loss to my grandfather. my mother's parents were farmers during the depression. they knew how to stretch a dollar. i think this influenced their giving us grandkids a dollar or two in quarters. a few times, we did get half dollars though. atop these things, i was always hard to fit for clothes so when i received them as gifts, they NEVER fit.

i'm thankful for the past however. it's allowed me to not (fully) buy into the bad things about the christmas holiday here in the states. i can focus on people and "the reason for the season". i do hope those wishing to receive gifts do in fact receive what they are wishing for. remember to give and receive gracefully.

cheers!