Holidays

Cynicism has its good and bad points. These days, it's probably a good idea to have a healthy dose of it.  The trick is to not let oneself become too jaded. 

I'm sure we all have memories of our personal by-gone days; childhood innocence...mud pies....the whole bit. We believed, I mean really believed in the miracles of snowflakes and moonbeams. We didn't need to be coaxed into putting our tooth under a pillow or a plate of cookies by the hearth for a certain holiday visitor. It was a given that very special things happened in our very ordinary lives...that magic could be very real.

It was all part of our childhood mythology, the icons and anecdotes of our ancestry and nationality...although for the life of me I don't understand the need to develop the myth so deep that children are traumatized when the truth is revealed.

My childhood mythology faded at an early age, although with a younger brother around we were able to stretch the Santa, Bunny etc. presence for a few more years. It was fun believing, but somehow more fun getting past it and understanding the beauty, sacredness and joy of gift giving.

The holidays seem so much more commercial now; I imagine our economy relies a great deal on holiday sales, so I don't blame any one for cashing in on the season.  But I hope that somewhere, beneath all the glitter, hype and video games that people remember the warmth, love and sharing that truly mark these special occasions.
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So for today, Fifty Five Is The New Holidays....it doesn't have to be Christmas to wanna be Santa!