A Christmas Note

An update from Larry

Before we start, a bit of an explanation. I've been away from this column for several weeks now. A (very) bare bones description of what happened is this:

I'd come up against a dead spot in writing and began feeling as if I was forcing the words each week. Sitting down to write was becoming a chore rather than a pleasure and I didn't like that feeling. I'd long ago made myself a promise that if I ever began to lose the desire to write, I'd just admit it and quit. To be honest, I thought I'd reached that point and I called my editor to tell him that I was done.

(Hold the cheers. The noise might upset the neighbors' pets.)

Fortunately, I have an editor who understands me a lot better than I do and he allowed me an extended writing vacation. He understood that I needed some time off and that it all would come back if I just stopped for a while. He was right. Things are back to nearly normal and, once again, writing is fun rather than forced, so here goes.

Do I find myself a bit exasperated that many stores started putting out Christmas decorations right after Labor Day? You bet.

Am I just a wee bit tired of being bombarded by reminders that, apparently, it's my duty to go out and shop? Yep.

Minor aside: You have to wonder if a 3-month long shopping spree was what God had in mind as the proper way to celebrate his son's birthday.

Just thinking out loud.

Have I avoided the upper end of the FM dial because there's a station there that began playing Christmas carols in early November? I have.

Has the annual shootout over nativity scenes in public places started? Sure has.

Is there a very large tree standing in a scary-sized container of water in our living room that "Monty"- our family dog - keeps trying to mark as his own? Check.

Was I was nearly electrocuted while hanging lights that were made in some foreign country by someone making $0.30/hr? It's become a tradition.

And, in keeping with another tradition (that drives many batty) here's my version of a Christmas update letter:

This year, my wife and I didn't discover the cure for cancer, end the heartbreak of psoriasis, nor did we meet Elvis on any remote Caribbean island that we didn't visit.

Further, I haven't been arrested for a major crime.

Yet.

All bets are off, however, if those window replacement salespeople keep coming to our door.

We're buying no new cars - American or otherwise. Check out the economy, our bank account, and our retirement funds and you'll understand why. Too, our cars don't look all that bad despite the boatload of miles they all have on them.

The house still needs painting and the kitchen faucet still leaks. We (I) haven't cleaned the yard as frequently as we (I) should. Our clothes are pretty much the ones we wore all last year and, to be honest, the year before that. Note: the only suit I own was purchased eleven years ago and has been worn precisely four times.

None of our kids are contenders for any major awards, but they're all healthy, basically sane, and doing well. In today's world, we'll gladly settle for that.

Our dog (Monty) and cat (Cyrano) maintain a somewhat strained truce and continue to engage in an ongoing contest to see who can shed the most hair.

All in all, it's been a fairly normal year. Much like yours, I'd wager.

We would, however, enjoy seeing our families more frequently, but that's tough to do when you're a half-lap of America away from where they live.

On the plus side, we have a granddaughter who keeps us in stitches and we get to see her every day.

All in all - and even with all of the hype and hoopla - it's still a time that can be enjoyed. If only we'd slow down, remember what this is all about, and allow ourselves some time for reflection. Do take that time, each and all of you. You'll be the better for it.

Merry Christmas.

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