I love my friends

Thank you, folks, for giving me perspective and cheer. It's hard to get a real pity party going for myself when I'm in touch with so many wonderful people!

DH and I went to the mall for some early exercise. Some of the stores are open already at 7:30. Everything except Nordstrom's is decorated for Christmas. Santa is sitting for photos starting today. We have a full month of hohoholiday. I don't think it's such a good thing. I have heard that in the old days (1930s) Stores didn't decorate for Christmas until Dec. 1st. Can you imagine? Why, you wouldn't even have time to get sick of the carols. (Swertogawd, one more parumpahpumpum and I'm gonna HURT that little drummer boy!)

I still don't have anything for mom, though I'm looking for a long, dark, soft, machine-washable cardigan sweater with pockets and something sparkly on it. If I can find the sweater, I can always add the something sparkly. Don't tell her though. She likes it so much better if it's not handmade.

And does anyone else put together a few generic sort of presents to keep on hand in case someone unexpectedly gives you a gift and you didn't have anything for them? Thank God for rumballs! They solve a lot of gifting problems. When your friends reach a certain age, their tastes have become specific, they don't need more - stuff - and yet you still want to give them something. Rum balls. At worst, they can pull them out when company drops by, or take them in to the office. At best, they will eat them all in the car on the way home.

I love Dole's canned peaches in the jars. And I have been saving the nice big jars all year, so now I have many air-tight small containers to fill with rumballs. Just add a ribbon, and it's a gift! Tahhdahh! Sometimes, the jars even come back to me with interesting home-made goodies therein. Jams or bath salts pickles or such. I love recycling gifts. One friend and I used the same piece of gift wrap, passing it back and forth, for five years till someone's husband threw it away.

Today is DH's birthday. I got him a shirt and a book and an exercise machine. It's hard to find toys for big boys who buy whatever they want when they see it. He keeps saying tht it's just another day for him. I can NOT accept that. In my heart of hearts, I know that birthday's are the most important day of the year. How could someone not care? Is it a defense against being disappointed? Or is he really telling the truth and just doesn't care that today is his day? Ask him? Well, he expects me to believe what he says. But a great portion of my inner committee simply can't believe it. It's like arguing with my inner compass. I know that north is over there and you can tell me it's not, and you may be right, but my compass insists that it's is north over that way.

So does anyone else truely, truely not care when your birthday rolls around?