We wrap up 2005 with the Saturday Six, and bring in 2006 with the Sunday Seven. How’s that for a double whammy??

For those who’d like to join in on the fun, playing is simple: you can either answer the questions in this journal or you can answer them in your own blog and leave a link. It is strongly recommended that you answer the journals in your blog and post the link…since several of the people who are playing have relocated away from AOL, it’s important that everyone knows where your new (or temporary) blogging homes are, so if you don’t mind, leave a first name and your journal’s link, just so we can find you easier!

But before the questions, it was Auntie Lyn, of “Lyndas’s Lullaby 2” who was the first to play last week. Congratulations, Lyn!

Here are this week’s “Saturday Six” questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal…but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as “first to play,” you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. From a financial standpoint, was 2005 a good year or a bad year for you? Do you expect 2006 to be better or worse?

2. What was your least favorite moment of 2005?

3. Did you lose anyone close to you in 2005? If so, who were they?

4. Take this quiz (if you haven’t already!): What do you know about blogging?

5. Where were you when 2005 began? Where were you when 2005 ended?

6. Did you make new year’s resolutions for 2005? If so, how many did you keep?

If you have a Reader’s Choice question you’d like to see asked (and answered), click the e-mail link in my Blogger profile and send it to me.

MY ANSWERS:
1. 2005 was definitely a worse year than 2004. But the primary reason that is true is because of two surgeries I had to have. I expect 2006 to be better because I know of nothing else that needs plumbing work.

2. Probably the abdominal surgery. I could have done without that.

3. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve lost very few of the people close to me. My paternal grandmother died in October at the age of 89.

4.

Well, You Know What a Blog Is…

You got 3/8 correct! But, truthfully, most blogs probably bore you.

5. The same thing both years: sitting at home with the dogs watching the ball drop in Times Square on television.

6. I don’t think I made any resolutions because I expected myself to break them. I figured why waste a step. Resolutions are one thing; goals are something different…at least the way I look at them.

When I was in school, I’d have been just as happy with an “A-” as I would be with an A. In this case, I’m not so sure…

So last week I let Tuesday go by without even realizing it. This week, I’m making up for it with a double edition of the Tuesday Two.

First, though, it’s time to recognize the person who was first to answer last week’s special challenge edition. That distinction goes to Hoppers of “Hoppers Happenings.” Congratulations!

The rules, for those of you who are visiting for the first time, are simple: I offer you two questions related to a single topic. Choose one question (and only one) and answer it in your blog and leave a link to your post in a comment here. (Or, you can simply choose your question and answer it entirely in a comment here.) Be sure to specify which question you’re answering.

THIS WEEK’S FIRST TOPIC: CHRISTMAS AFTERMATH

Question A:
When is the last time you had to return or exchange a Christmas gift at a store, and how much of a hassle was doing it?

or

Question B:
Now that another Christmas is behind us, what holiday song will you be happiest to no longer have to hear for another eleven months?



THIS WEEK’S SECOND TOPIC: MONEY

Question A:
You see your worst enemy drop a $20 bill. Would you tell him or her, or would you quietly pocket the money.

or

Question B:
What is your own definition of being “rich” from a monetary standpoint?

Remember, pick question A or question B (and in this week’s case, pick one question each from both topics). Don’t answer all four questions!





My answers:
Topic #1: CHRISTMAS
Question B: I hate the song, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” When I worked at Kmart, that tune made every Christmas music tape to be played in the store all five years that I was there. Imagine hearing that song, every forty-five minutes, all month long.

Topic #2: MONEY
Question A: I might hate to do it, but I’d alert him or her to the money and I’d hand it over with a smile. I’d take satisfaction in knowing that I had done something he or she probably wouldn’t have, and that’d be worth the $20 to me.

One of the things I won’t miss when my AOL account converts itself into an AIM account will be those false-news headlines that appear on AOL’s welcome screen. Sometimes, it’s as if they were really hurting for something to talk about.

A recent one asked whether it was too early to judge Bill Clinton’s presidency from a historical perspective. I was curious about what this controversy was all about, since most people don’t think twice about attempting to judge George W. Bush’s presidency from a historical perspective before it’s even over.

The link took me to an article explaining that new text books are already including material from the Clinton presidency. Considering that he’s been out of office for five years now, that’s hardly a surprise. (Was there previously some mandatory waiting period before new text books could include events from past presidents?)

The article begins with the explanation that the Clinton years are in that gray area of being too far past to be “current” but too recent to be judged in perspective. It then adds this statement:

“Yet history is already judging Clinton in the place where millions of students get their information about him — textbooks.”

Judging how, exactly? The article goes on to explain:

“The impeachment is portrayed in the context of his two-term tenure, a milestone event, but not one that overshadows how Clinton handled the economy, crime and health care.”The most commonly used texts give straightforward recaps of Clinton’s toughest days, with some flavor of how it affected the nation. Absent are any the lurid details of his relationship with Monica Lewinsky that spiced up daily news reports and late-night talk shows as the scandal and impeachment played out in 1998 and early 1999.”

I don’t see anything particularly judgmental in that description. Particularly if the impeachment is mildly portrayed and not painted as the only thing that happened in Clinton’s second term. (There were more important things going on at the time, as I recall.)

One of the quoted text books includes this information about Clinton’s impeachment:

“Polls showed most Americans did not believe Clinton’s ‘tortured explanations of his behavior,’ the book says, but also did not think his offenses warranted his removal.”

That sounds pretty neutral to me. I wonder how the writer of this article, and more especially, the writer of the AOL tie-in poll considers this to be a real “judgment” of anyone. Maybe it was just a slow news day for AOL.

Reporting what happened isn’t judging. And no history class should exclude what happened during Clinton’s presidency (or any other).

I suspect that when the Clinton years are viewed from a historical perspective, one thing that will be said is this: the scandal turned enough attention and sympathy toward Hillary that it enabled her to receive enough support to successfully run for the senate, and, that because she was able to be elected and prove herself there, she became the nation’s first serious female contender for the White House.

Somehow, I doubt if that’s what Clinton’s critics at the time had in mind.

People like to blame today’s retail merchants for inflicting the custom of Christmas gifts upon us, but historians don’t agree on that assumption. They would point to ancient Rome, where the exchange of small gifts among family members was part of their year-end celebrations.

I’m sure it was a lot easier back then, despite modern technology.

There were no shopping malls, but this meant that there were no traffic jams. There were no Christmas sales, but this meant that there were no long lines to checkout. There were no webpages from which one could order a gift by a certain date to be guaranteed that the gifts would arrive before Christmas; but this meant that such retailers weren’t making empty promises about delivery dates that turned out not to be true.

One of the gifts I ordered this Christmas — for my Godson, Sullivan — came from a well-known online merchant. They promised that if I ordered by a certain date (and I ordered before that date), there would be no problem with Christmas delivery.

No problem.

I gave them my work address, reasoning that if the mail arrived while I was at work, the postal carrier might not want to risk leaving it at my door, and they’d instead take it back to the post office and I’d have the added hassle of having to go claim it at their window. The day before their “guaranteed” delivery date, I called the retailer just to make sure it was going to be there. After waiting 14 minutes on hold, I was connected to a human. “Yes,” said the operator, “I’m showing that it just arrived at the local post office this afternoon.”

What a relief.

The next day, however, there was no package. You’d already guessed that, right? I called the retailer back, waited 15 minutes this time, and was told by the operator that she was showing that it had just arrived at my local post office that afternoon.

Hmm…see a pattern here? The retailer said they’d give me a refund of the shipping charges.

I called the post office and explained that since the next day was a Saturday, and since our front desk was closed, there was no mail delivery. I wanted to know what I’d have to do to claim the package. “Just come by this afternoon and we’ll get it for you,” the postal worker said.

Fine.

I went, ridiculously-long package tracking ID number in hand, to claim my package. The post office couldn’t find it.

Naturally.

The clerk suggested that if the package had come in that afternoon, it might not be checked in so that her computer would see it. She gave me a number to call early the next morning. I was to get in touch with the specific carrier that would handle that route, ask him to leave that package out of his van (which I figured he’d do anyway since he wasn’t making a delivery at that address). I’d then be able to go to the post office again and pick up the package from the window.

I called the next morning, (at an hour where I’m generally not yet awake, much less lucid), got the carrier and had him search for the package. I was on hold just long enough to become convinced that the package still hadn’t arrived. Fortunately, he came back with good news.
So I then had to go back to the post office later that morning when the window opened and claim the package. I took it, terrified that I’d open it and find that they’d packed the wrong item, but fortunately, they put the right toy in the right box.

I doubt I’ll be doing business with that company again. It’s one thing to inconvenience me; when you lose track of my Godson’s Christmas present, you’re treading on thin ice with me.

But I was able to visit with my best friend’s family on Christmas evening and everyone seemed pleased with the gifts. They’re quite a good looking family: three kids, ages four, two and four months. I think it’s safe to say that all three will grow up to be heart-breakers.

I hope all of you had a great, stress-free Christmas filled with the things that made you happy. If you’re celebrating Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, I hope you’re still having a stress-free, joy-filled holiday.

Wouldn’t it be nice if every day could be like that?

The greatest Christmas movie, according to those who responded to the December poll, is “A Christmas Story.” The tale of little Ralphy, who was desperate for a BB rifle despite warnings that he’d shoot his eye out, received 27% of the vote.

The second most popular Christmas movie was my own favorite, “Miracle on 34th Street.” Though it has been remade several times, nothing compares, in my opinion, with the original 1947 version. Edmund Gwenn just looks and acts like Santa should, and that expression on little Natalie Wood’s face when she pulls on his beard and realizes that it isn’t fake perfectly captures the magic that Christmas has for so many kids. This title received 15% of votes.

“It’s A Wonderful Life” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” tied for third place, each receiving 9% of the vote.

“White Christmas,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “A Christmas Carol,” and “National Lampoon’s ‘Christmas Vacation’” each received 6%, tying for fourth place. There was a five-way tie for fifth place, with “Home Alone,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Nightmare for Christmas,” “Scrooged” and “The Polar Express” each receiving 3% of votes.

I hope all of you found that Santa had left just what you wanted under the tree this year. More about that in a moment.

But first, it’s time to recognize the first to play last week. Angelia Rian of “A Fallen Angel Under A Dark Moon” was first to answer last week’s question! Congratulations!

On to the challenge!

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
List up to seven Christmas presents you received this year. If you don’t celebrate Christmas or don’t exchange gifts for Christmas, then list up to seven gifts you received for your birthday or another special occasion.

Either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment. (To be considered “first to play,” a link must be to the specific entry in which you answered the question.)

My answers:
1. Cash (Nothing wrong with that!)
2. “Scrubs” Season One on DVD
3. “Stage Fright” on DVD
4. “The Wrong Man” on DVD
5. Neck and Shoulder Massager
6. Alarm Clock with Soothing Sounds Wake-up
7. Handmade comforter with Dog motif from Mom

Wil of “The Daily Snooze” asked if he’d missed a note about this week’s Tuesday Two being postponed. Until he asked, it had completely slipped my mind, which should give you an idea of the kind of week I’ve had. But, at least I remembered the Saturday Six!

For those who’d like to join in on the fun, playing is simple: you can either answer the questions in this journal or you can answer them in your own blog and leave a link. It is strongly recommended that you answer the journals in your blog and post the link…since several of the people who are playing have relocated away from AOL, it’s important that everyone knows where your new (or temporary) blogging homes are, so if you don’t mind, leave a first name and your journal’s link, just so we can find you easier!

But before the questions, the tradition of the “Saturday Six” is to recognize the first one to play the week before. Carly, of “Ellipsis…Suddenly Carly” was the first person to play last week, which is especially appropriate since she had the Reader’s Choice Question! Congratulations, Carly.

Here are this week’s “Saturday Six” questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal…but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as “first to play,” you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. Which of the following generally costs you more: a normal trip to your barber/hairstylist, your usual lunch at your favorite restaurant, the most recent amount you paid to fill up your gas tank, or your biggest single contribution to a single charity in 2005?

2. What drink — alcoholic or not — do you drink entirely too much of?

3. Did you receive a Christmas card from anyone you didn’t send one to? Did you send them a belated card in return?

4. Take this quiz (if you haven’t already!): What is most important in your life?

5. Before taking the quiz, which of its categories (career, love, money, health, family or fun) would you have said would be your answer?

6. Do you believe in soulmates? Do you think that there are at least one out there for every person, that there is a single “true” soulmate for every person, or that there aren’t soulmates for everyone?

If you have a Reader’s Choice question you’d like to see asked (and answered), click the e-mail link on the About Me bar and send it to me.

MY ANSWERS:
1. A charity contribution.

2. Diet Coke.

3. Three. I’m sending them “Happy New Year” cards.

4. Money is most important in your life.
A high money concentration indicates that you feel that you need to have money in order to truly enjoy life. You feel that if you don’t have enough money you will miss out on things that other people get to enjoy.

5. I would have said “family.”

6. I think they exist, but not necessarily one for every person. I think people would be better off if those who are lucky enough to find theirs would treasure the person as though there isn’t a soulmate for everyone.

I have to give it credit: for only three questions, this one agrees with what the more complicated tests I’ve taken say.

(Although the looks bit is off.)

This could be a difficult question for you to answer, because most of you probably grab the remote when your favorite program takes a commercial break. But we’ll give the topic of television commercials a try anyway. A few years ago, TV Guide compiled a list of the 50 Greatest Television Commercials. There have been plenty of contenders since then, but it’s good for idea starters.

But first, it’s time to recognize the first to play last week. It was the second week in a row that Jamilyn of “Jamilyn’s Quiz Central” was first to answer! Congratulations again, Jamilyn!

On to the challenge!

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:
What are your all-time favorite television commercials? If “favorite” isn’t the right word for you, then what are the seven that tend to stand out the most in your mind? You can use the TV Guide list for some ideas if you’re drawing a blank.

Either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment. (To be considered “first to play,” a link must be to the specific entry in which you answered the question.)

My answers:
1. Coca-Cola: “Mean Joe Green” from 1979
2. Life Cereal: “Three Brothers” from 1971
3. Keep America Beautiful/Ad Council: “Crying Indian” from 1971
4. Coca-Cola: “Hilltop” (I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing) from 1971
5. Oscar Mayer: “My Bologna has a First Name” from 1963
6. LBJ for President: “Daisies” from 1964 - Still a powerful ad.
7. Apple Computer: “1984″ - It was a great spot, but I don’t put it at the top of the list.

Sorry I’m a bit late with this, but better late than never!

For those who’d like to join in on the fun, playing is simple: you can either answer the questions in this journal or you can answer them in your own blog and leave a link. It is strongly recommended that you answer the journals in your blog and post the link…since several of the people who are playing have relocated away from AOL, it’s important that everyone knows where your new (or temporary) blogging homes are, so if you don’t mind, leave a first name and your journal’s link, just so we can find you easier!

But before the questions, the tradition of the “Saturday Six” is to recognize the first one to play the week before. Judi, of “Talking to Myself” was the first person to play last week. Congratulations, Judi.

Here are this week’s “Saturday Six” questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal…but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! To be counted as “first to play,” you must be the first player to either answer the questions in a comment or to provide a complete link to the specific entry in your journal in which you answer the questions. A link to your journal in general cannot count. Enjoy!

1. How much of your Christmas shopping and holiday card mailing do you have left to accomplish? When do you expect to finish it if you haven’t already?

2. When giving gifts to co-workers or casual friends, how much importance do you place on the value of the gift you’re giving them versus the value of the gift you imagine they’re giving you?

3. What are you secretly hoping someone will give you for Christmas that you haven’t specifically asked for?

4. Take this quiz (if you haven’t already!): Which Jones Holiday Soda Flavor are you?

5. Would you actually try that flavor?

6. READER’S CHOICE QUESTION #78 from Carly: If you could step into the life of any fictional Christmas character — Scrooge, Rudolph, Frost, etc. — and live that part, which character would you choose and why?

If you have a Reader’s Choice question you’d like to see asked (and answered), click the e-mail link on the About Me bar and send it to me.

MY ANSWERS:
1. I’m doing up my Christmas cards this weekend. I have about half of my Christmas shopping left to do and I’ll probably finish up by Friday.

2. I used to worry about that…these days, I tend to make up candy/treat packages for my co-workers, so it’s more about the effort put into them than calculating how much in sweets I’ve given them. I like it a lot better that way.

3. A new Mac G5 Powerbook, which I absolutely do not need. (I guess that’s why I didn’t ask for it…along with the fact that no one could afford it, either.)

4. Pecan Pie Soda

“Sweet, but totally nuts.”

5. Hmm. This has at least more appeal than some of the other flavors I’ve heard they’ve come up with, but I still think I’d pass.

6. I think I’d like to be Rudolph…it would be nice to feel that valued because of the things you’d otherwise be ashamed of.

“Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.”
-Charles M. Schultz

You may have seen this before, but it made its way to my inbox again, so I thought I’d post it for those who’ve managed to miss it so far.

This is the philosophy of Charles M. Schultz, creator of Peanuts. Schultz admitted to battling depression and anxiety, and ended up folding many of his own insecurities into the character of Charlie Brown, making him a sort of Everyman.

You don’t have to answer these questions: it’s better if you don’t, in fact. Just read it straight through and you’ll get the point:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier? The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

I don’t know of many people who wouldn’t benefit from pondering this for a while as we reach the holiday season and approach yet another new year. I hope all of you have someone to care about and someone who cares about you.

A new blog, “Directory Assistance,” is now available to those looking for their former AOL journal writers. Check out their sidebar for the latest listings. Over time, a more formal “directory” will appear arranged by user name.

For now, visit “Directory Assistance” here.

There’s a unique feature of the “Tuesday Two” that appears every tenth edition. From the start, I’ve pointed out that the rules are you answer only one of the questions, but not both. Now that we’ve reached the tenth edition, you find out why.

First, though, I want to recognize Yaya1 of “My Thoughts,” who was first to answer last week’s questions about the Future.

This time, instead of giving you two questions related to a single topic, I’m going to give you two previous editions and you have to choose one of them and answer the question that you dodged the first time around. If you thought you were taking the easy way out, you might find out that the harder question is still one that’s waiting for you! (Insert evil laugh here.)

So, go back and visit these two editions. (If you played before, you’ll have to remember which question you answered, because the old links won’t be there. You’re welcome to leave links to your original responses at these entries if you wish.)

Episode 4: PREJUDICE

or

Episode 5 (A Double Topic): SONGS or YOUR WORST ENEMY

Once you’ve selected your previously-unanswered question, the same procedures apply: either answer it in a comment here, or answer it in your journal and leave a link here.

Running with a comment from Carly in the last post, I thought it would be a good time to address the White House Christmas card scandal.

Carly said:

“…I saw nothing wrong with Bush sending out “Holiday” cards that didn’t use the word Christmas specifically. Political correctness can go too far on both sides of the holiday issue. Whatever happend to social politeness?”

Bush is sending 1.4 million cards to his “closest friends,” as the Washington Post article states, and the message in the card is “Happy Holidays,” not “Merry Christmas.”

I suspect that there is a good percentage of that 1.4 million people who Bush has never even seen before, much less met. They probably donated to his campaign, but I doubt that Bush really considers them his “closest friends.” (Do you know anyone with 1.4 million close friends?)

I also suspect that there could be a fraction of that 1.4 million who may not necessarily celebrate Christmas, even if the Christian Right makes up a strong percentage of Bush’s financial supporters.

If you’re sending cards to those whom you don’t know, it’s safer to wish “Happy Holidays” and be all-inclusive. I agree that there’s nothing wrong with sending a card with that message. Bush’s problem is that he has tried to define himself, in part, by his religious convictions. So I can see why, to some, it seem might seem a little two-faced of him to abandon the word “Christmas.” I don’t agree with that point of view, but I can understand why some of them are mildly upset about it.

A while back, I worked a part-time job in a Thomas Kinkade art gallery. Kinkade, for those who have never heard of him, is an artist who is known for his luminist style, which means that he paints images that have a sense of light in them and that take on a “glow” when lights are dimmed. (It’s not glow-in-the-dark paint…it’s actually a trick of the eye through the contrasts from darks to warm amber colors, but that’s beside the point.) In any case, Kinkade always includes the words “John 3:16″ next to his signature as a testament of his own faith.

Kinkade is blessed with a brilliant marketing team who found ways to put his images on virtually everything…from coffee mugs to coasters to tapestries to nightlights.

And Christmas cards!

Except that a few years ago, Kinkade started issuing “Happy Holidays” Christmas cards. This upset some of the customers, who felt that Kinkade was cowtowing to secular pressure. In that case, I agreed with them, because it was Christmas-themed images, homes with giant Christmas trees and decorated with Yuletide glee, that adorned the front of the card. Don’t give me a Christmas image and wish me “Happy Holidays.” If you’re going to be “bold” enough to print a Christmas-themed image on the front, you might as well wish whoever receives it a “Merry Christmas.” You’re not fooling anyone with the generic wish on the inside.

This year’s White House Christmas card doesn’t feature a Christmas-themed image on the front. In fact, it features a snow-covered scene of the South Portico of the White House. You see the American flag. You don’t see a Christmas tree. There’s no subtle message of Christmas on the front that is then downplayed with a “Happy Holidays” message on the inside.

But that doesn’t stop Christmas enthusiasts from losing the happiness of the season:

“This clearly demonstrates that the Bush administration has suffered a loss of will and that they have capitulated to the worst elements in our culture,” said William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

The worst elements of our culture?
Who’s he talking about? People who are asking others to be tolerant? They’re the worst elements of our culture? I’m a Christian, but if he thinks they’re the worst elements of our culture, I don’t want to know who he thinks the best elements would be.

I do think it’s a shame that people who celebrate Christmas are being made to feel ashamed to do so freely. If we really have religious freedom in this country, we should all be able to celebrate whatever holiday we want without being judged by our decision. I don’t like this “PC” culture that is being forced upon us at every turn any more than anyone else. But there comes a point at which it isn’t about being politically-correct, so much as just having manners.

If you’re going to take the effort to extend your holiday wishes to others with a personal note in the mail, it seems only polite that you take the time to make sure that the person you’re wishing Merry Christmas to actually celebrates it. It’s that “social politeness” that Carly mentioned.

If you have a Christmas card list with 1.4 million names, that’s a tall order. In that case, if you’re not willing to narrow your list a bit, you’re a lot better off using the generic “Happy Holidays” wish. After all, one who celebrates Christmas and one who celebrates Hanukkah will get the same sentiment from someone who wishes them happiness on their holiday, even if the specific word isn’t there. All that is required of them is that they receive the message of goodwill in the spirit in which it is intended.

My list is about 25 names long, and I have made every effort to make sure that the people I send Christmas cards to do celebrate Christmas (or at least don’t mind receiving a card with that sentiment). Some years, I send out “Merry Christmas” cards. Some years, it’s “Happy Holidays.” And other years, it’s “Season’s Greetings.” With me, it depends more on the design of the card than on my responsibility to serve as a representative of some religion.

Most of the people on my list have sent me Christmas cards as well, so I know that whether they go overboard in celebrating Christmas themselves, they at least willingly participate in this great annual charity event for the postal service and thereby attempt to spread cheer this time of year.

I don’t send Christmas cards to people who I know don’t celebrate Christmas. Does that make me a bad person? Am I somehow less of a Christian for not ministering through a Christmas card? Am I suddenly part of the “worst elements of our culture?”

I don’t think so.

If the Christmas season is supposed to be one of love for your fellow man, why would I wait until that time of year to attack someone else’s beliefs? That doesn’t sound all that Christian-like to me.

Whatever holiday you choose to celebrate, I hope yours is a great one.