Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and all that stuff

Bubby  WUVS Santa!

Like the title said ... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Do I have a good excuse for not writing for so long?  Not really.  Do I have a good excuse for not keeping one of my resolutions -- which was to start posting again on New Year's Day?  Not really.  Ya know, life happens.  Then, the other day, I found this photo on RLF's Facebook Page and I thought, "There is my excuse.  That's kind of what the last few months have been like."  Of course, I don't think that anyone would want to post a photo of me screaming like that on their Facebook page... When he has hair and fully developed verbal skills, this won't be so cute on him either.

Now, I'm not looking for sympathy because I know that the holiday season can be hectic and emotional for many people.  In fact, I'd wager that it is that way for the majority of the population.  If you work in any kind of retail, you're probably dragging by the time you flop down in front of the tree to open the presents that your loved ones have fought the crowds to find and buy for you.  My best friend works in the insurance industry and it's a month of overtime as it is the time of the year that most insurance policies are up for renewal.



How about those folks who work for the airlines and airports?  Or any sort of transportation?  Good heavens!  I'm sure there are many, many more industries that are crunched during the holidays and I don't mean to miss anyone.

BUT -- there is a point here.  What if we each had the Thanksgiving through New Year's stretch every six weeks eight times a year.  That would leave an extra two weeks "off".  The catch would be that not everyone  gets to celebrate the holiday season -- only the one assigned to your profession.  If other members of your family aren't assigned to that holiday season, they don't celebrate.  You get to still do all the gift shopping, baking, whatever you do.  Thing is, you're only competing with one eighth of the population for that X-Box.

Retailers wouldn't have to rely on that last quarter of the year to make their money -- they would make it all year round.  Mall Santas would be employed all year long -- except for their holiday time.  In that case, we get some 'Seasonal Santas'.  There wouldn't be as many people waiting in line on Black Friday so there would be less chance of trampling deaths and injuries.  The Holiday Spirit would be present all year long and food shelves and soup kitchens would always be fully stocked.

Hmmm... Thinking of charity, that would mean the bell ringers would be present all year long so that would be an extra eleven months of avoiding eye contact on my way out of the grocery store with my bottle of vodka under my arm.  It also means an entire year of frightening toy displays in stores (more on that later).

I'll admit to this idea being a little half baked...  Maybe it could work.