Every January 1, I feel refreshed and invigorated by not only a brand new year, but 365 days ripe with possibilities. It doesn't really matter that many of the possibilities might not materialize and there is no guarantee that I will even remember what they were a year from now. The fact is, the year ahead holds the promise of possibilities, artistic inspirations, projects, adventures and other wonderful known and unknown things. Like for instance, I am hopeful that by next Christmas I will have located some, if not all of the things I misplaced throughout the year, especially Christmas decorations and gifts.

I learned many years ago NOT to make resolutions. Certainly not because I am so perfect that nothing needs tweaking but mainly because I cant be bothered with feeling guilty and setting myself up for whats surely to be a disappointment. Why, if I should hurt someones feelings or make a mistake well..... we are all fallible. And I always have a sincere apology handy. That seems much healthier than kicking myself all over the place and being riddled with guilt. Oh I know there are lots of things I probably should feel guilty about, but lucky (?) for me I inherited the somewhat wanky gene from Mother that allows me to disengage from most all guilt producing emotions. It must be a Southern Belle thing as I notice this prevalently amongst Southern women. I do think a little occasional guilt might be healthy, lest one is actively cultivating some sociopathic tendencies?  But thankfully I find it very easy to 'turn the page' instead of harboring guilt or a grudge.

The holidays are stressful enough without adding a heap of emotional turmoil on top of them, doncha think? Why, the whole gift giving thing can just about give me an ulcer. Next year I will strive to do better, for Gary. Trying to make sure I had so many gifts for Reagan and Rhys and Melissa left poor Gary with tickets to a concert and tiny cardboard cutouts of shirts along with a note saying we will go shopping after Christmas. I will say the cutouts were wrapped nicely in a small box until Little Ivy Thomason chewed the corner off enabling the cutouts to be seen if one shook the box just so. Rather than finding another box and re-wrapping it, I got out the strapping tape (well, I could have just turned the chewed corner towards the tree).

Buying shirts after Christmas just makes sense. Why not go when everything is on sale. If I had it my way I would have given everyone little cardboard cutouts of their presents with the estimated date of arrival attached. Thats because I am a bargain hunter. OK, admittedly, Im tight as wallpaper. There are things I splurge on but not if I can find them on sale!

I wouldn't mind a shopping trip AFTER Christmas rather than pricey retail items under the tree. As long as there are some cutouts of whats to come festively wrapped I would be just fine with it. I like simple gifts that dont take too much thought, on my part. Maybe I should have said "simple minded" gifts. Consumables are better; like things we can either use up, eat, or set on fire. You cant say that though because it leaves too much to personal interpretation and items would run the gamut from wonderful to wretched! Jam is always a good gift, unless its strawberry. Im terribly allergic to strawberries. Love the taste but they cause my lips to blow up! And vanilla candles just make my skin crawl. Even though I cant really smell much I remember THAT particularly offensive choking odor from college days. Unless its in a recipe, I want no part of vanilla.

I swear, Christmas presents get more intimidating every year. Or perhaps I should say the gifts I receive get more intimidating. Last year I really sort of wanted a Kindle. I had researched all the e-readers and even went to Barnes and Noble to hold a Nook and let it fall on my face (to see how much it hurt on account I read in bed). I ended up liking the Kindle, mainly because of Amazon. I adored it and my life was complete once I figured it out. Its a present I have used every day because I love to read. I tell the boys when gift giving occasions arise to just give me Amazon gift cards so I can upload more books!

Since it was such a wonderful present last Christmas, Gary just knew I would love a Kindle Fire even more than my regular starter Kindle. He is thoughtful that way and a much better gifter than his wife. I opened it and stared in horror. See, new technology sort of scares the bejeepers out of me. Know wonder its called Kindle Fire because I was tempted to drop it like a flaming marshmallow! I opened it and left it on my desk for a couple of days to cool off, eyeing it suspiciously every time I sat down. Checking my email a few days later I happened to see one from Amazon. I opened the email and low and behold it was congratulating me for registering my new Kindle Fire (thanks Gary) and reassuring me just how easy it is to explore all it can do. Do they know me or what? Why, I can peruse 30,000 publications, 10,000 movies, upload music and apps, and even dress it up in Kindle clothes! Know wonder its so intimidating. It has taken me several days of reading and re-reading the "learn how to get started" email but at least now Im actually reading with it. And I must say I love the way you can flick the pages to turn them instead of pressing the deal on the side and its much easier to highlight, too. It is back lit so I can even read in the dark! Hmmmmm, I wonder if Lilly Pulitzer makes Kindle Fire covers!