Well, it wasn't that bad. Christmas, I mean. As the day leangthened on Dec 24 and became Christmas Eve, I finished the very last of my last minute Christmas shopping at Boscov's. I came home and wrapped up the presents for The Hub's family. I realized that Donald Rumsfeld was right. You know how he said, "You have to go to war with the army you've got"?

I realized, "You have to go to Christmas with the presents you've got." There comes a point where you can't bake, make, or fake anything else. You've to write the cards, wrap it up and go with it.

One of the things I had gotten my father was a good luck charm to take with him on his occassional trips to the casinos at Charlestown. I lost it. I guess that tells you something about our luck, his and mine! But, fortunately I did still have the 4 leaf clover bookmark which I was going to "follow up" with on his birthday. So is it bad luck that I lost the first charm, or good luck that I had the second one? Or is it just a matter of attitude, that I didn't run all over the house, tearing things apart, screaming like a maniac creating an unpleasent scene. I just said, "Oh, well, it'll turn up, let's move on to plan B"

I have spent most of my life in "Plan B". I think you make your own luck.

And, so thinking, I made up my mind to have a good time this Christmas. The best part was watching my niece and little nephews open their gifts. "Whoa!" the little boys would say in reaction to a matchbox car or train picture book. My niece is a little more reserved, but she gives a jackpot smile when she sees something she really likes, and I think the plush unicorn I gave her was a hit.

My sister-in-law cooked the most fabulous turkey. It was so perfect looking that when it came out of the oven, I took its picture! It was like an ad for Butterball! And it tasted every bit as good as it looked.

Now, it's after midnight and I'm actually a little tired instead of wound up wondering what else I can fit into my "day." So Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night!