Hark how the bells …

Well folks, we are approaching “The Holidays”. I’m sure many of us (Gina) are still in the warm afterglow of Halloween and the mountains of candy it leaves on our living room floors. But now we’re a matter of days to Turkey Day, which is – as we all know – just a stone’s throw to Christmas.

Have you ever been minding your own business when out of nowhere, BAM, you’re hit with this appreciation of the holiday’s creeping up on you? You know … when you’re otherwise perfectly willing to continue on your way oblivious and apathetic toward the world around you when you are suddenly pulled abruptly into the holiday spirit by a nearby pine scented something, or a cheery shopping center carol-spewing speaker, or even just a brisk fresh winter breeze that takes you back to the excitement of the free-spirited not-so-distant past holiday seasons? Walking down a busy sidewalk suddenly for the first time noticing the now month old lights on the pine trees and tinsel laden shop window displays and you just cant help but smile and breath in a deep breath of seasons greetings? Yes?

And when this happens, is it also, for you, followed by the consuming and paralyzing realization that you have neither started your Christmas shopping nor have any idea what to get anyone? You know … when you’re otherwise perfectly willing to run over your many reasons to hate working for a living and fantasize about how you might announce your retirement in the most dramatic and poignant fashion when all the sudden you’ve got an (unrelated) knot in your stomach and find yourself standing motionless on a busy street fighting through a newly realized headache to decide which nearby store might provide a quick gift idea? Suddenly mentally counting the available remnants of the last payday from the job you only moments ago were cursing to long forgotten gods and you just cant help but whimper a little as you pat your wallet and head into a store only to realize how tired you are and wonder silently how in the new world of the internet you can find yourself forced to fight through throngs of shoppers each and every year – the muzac version of “Carol of the Bells” now after it’s 15th run through 7 stores firmly in your head and nearly overpowering the currently playing Manhattan SteamRoller single?

Yeah … Me too.

Happy Holidays.