DO I NEED ONE

Holidays are large and expansive and tend to be all inclusive. They involve intense amounts of running around finding the perfect presents.
Actually, who am I kidding, at this point the perfect presents only apply to the critical people in my life.
(I'm not seriously stupid, I'm not going to admit who they are on my blog.)
Birthday..huge. I have time to shop for the "perfect" present. Christmas, not so much.
My boys will be happy even though they've figured out what they're getting.
Gillian, aka (according to those boys "the strange lady in Australia" seems happy with her fake 16thc bowl.
When I know I have to score I score.
But I have 16 nieces and nephews most over the age of 11 and they want cash and I'm not handing it out, why -- because parents ultimately complain that you haven't given their child enough whereas with a gift...you get my meaning.
This is why I'm quite starting to loathe the holidays.
Favorites (so you don't think I'm a total Scrooge): My boys, overseas packages are turning into one of the highlights of my season and along the way I do manage to hit some killer, spot on gifts, that manage the Oooos and Ahhhs.
I just wish I could capture "some" (those quote are for my friend Nanci) of the joys of less hectic holidays.
I realize this isn't going to happen.
I realize the wishing doesn't come true. I am a cynic.
I wish that someone (in my family) would just take the time to go to a bookstore (since I get so few gifts these days, though they've tended to be major this year so I'm not truly complaining) and take a bloody chance and buy me books by the half dozen. Lots of them!
This would make me happy.
I seriously don't need the big stuff...I like it, but I think it would be fun if someone just browsed (beyond the bestsellers) and picked up random things they thought I might like...total killer!
And there is nothing I would like better than to do the same for everyone in my life...Like that would work.
I told you I'm a cynic.

Seriously, do you come here for joy.

Wen

Friends

Friends are an essential ingredient when living life. They hold your memories, remind you of who you are and occasionally, why you matter.
The last part is especially important if you happen to be a parent and you spend many of your waking hour with a CLOSED FOR REPAIRS sign on your brain.
My closest friend left me a voicemail recently: "I'm sitting here drinking wine, wrapping presents and listening to Journey and I'm thinking of you."
I keep recycling this.
It means the world to mean.
My husband would NEVER do this.
My mom is fabulous for long conversations and advice.
But my friends, especially this friend, they get me.
They understand the joy of a foolish voicemail, the silliness of toy chickens that squawk, really great books that arrive in the mail...(maybe they're not sure if you've read them but they take the chance) and why is it my friends Christmas cards are always the first to arrive?
Family, can't live with them, certainly can't live without them.
Friends, without a doubt can't live without them.