On Christmas Eve (my family's traditional gift time), I had the loving presence (with a C) of my Beautiful Wife, my three great kids, a good son-in-law, and some and beautiful, intelligent and (for the most part) well-behaved grandchildren. Lots of warmth, not to be accounted for by the cheery fire in the fireplace.

Oh, and by the way, the de regeur shirts and ties, moccasin sox, Woody and Arlo Guthrie CDs, and a few other odds and ends.

May I belatedly wish each of you a wonderful Christmas (or Chanukkah, if that's your persuasion), and in just about six more days, a Magnificent Brand-New Millennium. And be sure not to let it go to waste: Use it all!

Dave Oesterreich