Maybe it should be Holly Daze. The holidays are always a dazzling time, aren't they? All those sparkling lights everywhere, the glittery wrapping paper, bubbles in glass after glass of champagne, everyone smiling with white, shiny teeth. Makes one walk around in a daze with all that dazzle.
I don't mean to sound like a cynic. The holidays aren't bad, with the exception of spending too much money, eating too much fattening food, overloading on sugar (cookies! chocolate! eggnog and pie!) and being very slothful (i.e. no exercise, blame it on the rainy weather.) Who doesn't like this time of year, when fake trees abound and fake happiness takes its toll? All that smiling. At least those bubbles in that champagne glass serve a purpose: dulling the ennui.
But wait, seriously now. Some holiday things are actually enjoyable. There is something nice about buying a gift or two and getting to watch the recipient open them, seeing a happy face. Baking cookies and cinnamon bread, filling the house up with great smells. Turning on Christmas tree lights every night, even on a fake tree. Gathering with my kids for a Christmas Eve dinner and laughing at the dogs with their clear disdain for the holiday, especially when made to wear reindeer ears.
In these troubled times throughout the world it is good to have a couple of days to welcome joy into our lives. With wishes of kindness and peace for the new year, let's all raise a glass of anything to the hope of a bright future. Or at least a less tarnished one.
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