Well Dom, I think I'll be getting the best present for Christmas. Hopefully my Mom (age 79) will be discharged from the hospital in time for the holiday. Check out my blog for the details. Neither I, nor my father have had time for ANY Christmas shopping thus far, we've spent all of our time at the hospital. It was touch and go for a while, she spent 2 weeks in ICU and her final diagnosis is Pulmonary Fibrosis. There is NO cure and the treatments are only effective in about 25% of those diagnosed. I thank God every day that my Mom falls into that 25%. Hopefully we'll have her around for a few more holidays. She's actually coherent about 80-90% of the time now too.
I haven't worked since prior to Thanksgiving, so it's definately a "hard-candy Christmas" for me. The savings is about empty and the cupboards are almost bare, so no Christmas Tree, no stockings, no presents, for me and my family. But we are the most blessed and the most lucky.
Now, I just read what I wrote. I didn't mean to lay a guilt trip on anyone. That was definately not my intention. Hasn't the Season become over commercialized anyway?
Happy Holidays!
May your god bless you!