I still get excited about the holidays despite a sad but funny episode in my childhood. I was about 5 or 6 years old when I hung an old stocking by my bedpost on Christmas Eve, only to find it empty on Christmas Day. I wondered why Santa passed me by so I asked my mother why. She then asked me with a straight face: Did you wash your stocking before hanging it? Maybe that is why Santa didn’t leave you anything. From then on until I figured out who Santa really was, I made sure my Christmas stocking was clean and fresh.

Thanksgiving gets me started on the holiday mood and I start thinking of getting the wreath out, putting some Christmas decorations together (but not a tree), and fixing up the place. I also planned on sending Christmas cards but I ran out of time this year so I have sent e-cards instead (sorry!)

Since Thanksgiving week, I have worked on four (yes, four!) canvasses. Because of holiday preparations and parties, I have put them aside. Hopefully, I will get to finish them early next year. I wish everyone one of the following:

a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,
Happy Hanukkah,
Happy Kwanzaa, or simply
Happy Holidays