I don’t know how it happened, but December is here. It’ll be a year that I’ve been at my job that I have a love/hate relationship with. My niece is leaving to become a Marine in about a week. My Dad will be here from NY to visit for Christmas. I’m so weird about Christmas. It doesn’t make any sense. I love to go Christmas shopping (although I can barely afford it), I love Christmas music and the whole idea of Christmas spirit. I just love it, yet I get so down because for one thing, the holidays have never been the same without Mom. Plus, I just miss being with my family. If I was back East things might be easier. And it doesn’t snow in Phoenix. That’s just weird. I don’t know how many more snow-less winters I can take. I’ll never be able to dream of a white Christmas living in this dust bowl. There’s nothing like home at Christmas time, especially where I’m from. The best things ever are sitting near the tree on a cold night drinking tea, or walking on Main St. with your best friend while Christmas music by Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra is blaring through the speakers and you have a hot cup of Vanilla Chai from Dunkin’ Donuts, or just going to NYC and seeing Christmas on steroids. I’m such an East Coast girl. I guess nothing can ever change that. One of these days I’ll get my butt out of Phoenix… but that takes extra money that I’m not really equipped to spend right now… especially since it’s Christmas time. One of these days I’ll be back home, and the holidays will be somewhat normal again.