Happy Holidays?

I think the older we get, the more Christmas changes. In your twenties, it's often about the rush of traveling home and seeing family. For most people I know, their thirties is about starting families of their own and juggling their own, new Christmas traditions with those of their now, expanded, families.
But what does Christmas mean if you don't have kids and aren't married? If, all you have is a dog who is easy to shop for?

I found myself exhausted the last couple of weeks with the selfish, all-about-me, grabby nature of the holiday. I'm not alone the past few years in bemoaning the incredibly insane materialistic nature of the holiday season. Not only because of the season, but also because of the economic times, it seems the utmost selfishness to try and live a Sharper Image life. It seems as though all it does is showcase how selfish you are, and that you don't seem to care that your ridiculous list makes your poor family feel like shit because they can't afford anything on it.
I've enjoyed the week to just hang with Nehi (despite being sick AGAIN!) I have my hunny-do list for stuff to get done next week in the house. I'm enjoying the time off. I've enjoyed going to lunch with a friend I haven't seen in a while, a movie with a couple of ex-students, a visit with an old family friend and her daughter. These seem the reasons for the seasons.
I find myself dreading tomorrow. Do I really need an in my face reminder that I fall short in the gift giving department as well as so many other seemingly stupid things? I find myself tired of being judged by someone else's ridiculous list of what I should be doing- no I'm not married and I don't have kids, and yes I'll be 35 soon. You know what? I don't care. I have Nehi, and I'm just fine with that.

So, I think Nehi and I will spend the day with a smile pasted on our faces and keep one eye on our watch, waiting for it to be over.

If Santa shows up, I'm siccing Nehi on him.