After a long Winter's nap -

Well Mrrzy - no one has yet figured out your gender and I'm real proud of you *G*.

After not seeing you post for so long I really enjoyed this one. The Holidays are just that. Holidays. The time away from work is great, we focus our energy on the little ones in our crew, and simply gather to attempt reconciliation from the perceived injustices of the prior year. My family isn't dysfunctional it is Maladaptive (political correctness begins at the Cat). Actually we really don't enjoy being around each other a lot so whatever that may translate into *G*.

Since I don't shop for Christmas I don't hear the music, and the extended periods of decorating are also lost on me. I do enjoy the occasionally well decorated house as it evokes good memories of my childhood.

Jan and I figure Christmas is an idea - since words are verbal symbols that represent different things to different people - we use the symbol year round. In March it could be a new pair of boots - "Merry Christmas Hon!" Or in July it could be a new straw hat - "Merry Christmas Hon!" and even in the month in question yes it can happen. So my Partner and I have taken the symbol and integrated it year round. We recognize what gives us pleasure and ignore that which we could choose to take offensively but don't.

Glad to have you back Spaw. For a bit there I thought you had a lobotomy or something.

And here in the states we have 12 holidays - Heh heh heh - lazy colonials anyway!

Steve