whew!  it's finally over.

three days ago i wrapped all of the gifts, stashed santa's deliveries in the Secret Hiding Place (tm) and packed up the outbound gifts for out-of-town family.  (i wonder if fedex hires reindeer to pull the trucks on christmas eve?)    the shopping wasn't even finished until then, thanks to all of the other online shoppers out there.  i thought i'd make the season easier on myself by avoiding the pushy crowds and their muzak-accompanied clamor at the malls:

in the end, i sort of missed it and joined the last-minute fray, credit card in hand.  at least this year i had some idea of what to get everyone, and where to get it.  i tend to obsess over finding just the right gift.  if i'm going to spend the time, money and trouble to buy a gift for someone who has to accept it and find room for it, it might as well be a good one, right?  few moments are more awkward than that pause between "i wonder what it could be?" and "it's, um, lovely.  uh, thank you."  (which quickly turns to mortified embarassment when that moment is followed by, "it's just like the one i gave you last year!")  my advice:  one can avoid such moments by giving consumable gifts, such as coffee and chocolate (wink, nudge)

the elves brought us an extra-special treat for the holidays:  the entire household has been graced with a nasty cold.  our little one even slept straight through 9 am on christmas morning, which I could swear is in direct violation of some rule that requires small children to jump on their parents' beds at 5 minutes before dawn.  this didn't dampen all enthusiasm, however.  in no time flat, the living room floor was strewn with toys and wrapping paper, and the cats were already trying to run off with curly bits of ribbon.  by midnight our eyelids were drooping, our stomachs were full, the fridge was stocked with leftovers, and i had plenty of coffee and chocolate to keep me content for several days.

this wasn't the most festive christmas i can remember.  maybe the hectic year stole some of the fervor, or perhaps i haven't entirely adjusted to all of the changes that still seem to leave empty spaces where tradition used to reside.  it was still ok, we spent some enjoyable family time together, and i even have a few days off to recover from the commotion.

untill y2k, that is.