"Sometimes we teach best what we most need to learn." That's from Richard Bach, and certainly applies to myself. I used to tell people who were stressed out about holidays (Christmas in particular) that a good way to deal with it would be this: Decide what exactly it is that you're celebrating, and then figure out what the most fitting way to celebrate this event would be. In other words, if it's Jesus' birthday that you celebrate, why on earth would you get caught up in conspicuous consumption and commercialization of the day? If you are one of those who celebrates the solstice, Chanukah, Ramadan or whatever, the same might apply. Unfortunately, sometimes this is easier said than done. I am surrounded by family members who are slaves to the commercial madness. Each year I suggest that we all get together and discuss some new ways to celebrate, but this falls on deaf ears. And so, each Christmas season I am surrounded by miserable adults and greedy kids who seem to be oblivious to the timeless beauty of the season. When I was quite young, a dear old great-aunt told me about "Old Christmas," and what a special time it was for the family (in Southern Illinois). Simple gifts were the rule, and time spent together by the fire, telling stories made it memorable. I recently came across a line in a Lee Smith novel that said, "Daddy allus said that Old Christmas was a time to stay home and think on what will last." J.