Whether you celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukah, Christmas or one of the other holidays or holy days of the season, gift giving is probably a part of the tradition. I've always tussled with this. To give or not to give, to receive or not receive, which is nobler.

I guess for you to understand, I would have to share another piece of my history... hope you aren't bored after all these years. Come to think of it, I'm pretty lucky to have such intact long-term memory ability. I'd have hit the 'block' writers talk about long ago, if I didn't have all this "stuff" hanging around in my memory banks. Well, here goes...

My dad was the oldest of seven children and extremely poor. Some families sit around on Christmas Eve and read the Christmas Story or sing Jingle Bells, my dad always told the Railroad Track story. My dad, being the oldest, was expected to have the shortest childhood. He needed to understand that there were little ones to care for, and after all, there wasn't a Santa. The very poorest Christmas that he could remember was the one he was given an orange and 25 cents. The 25 cents was for the purchase of one piece of railroad track. I think he resented most not the poorness of the present, but the fact that he had to walk the 8 blocks to the hardware store to purchase it. No one had the time to buy and wrap a small gift for a small boy. Dang story makes me cry every time I tell it.

He always wanted us to appreciate everything we had. We always knew that there were those in need of shelter, hungrier, and poorer than we. From his lack we were sensitized to the world in a very unique way. I am grateful.

After "the story" Santa came. Our Santa was unique as far as I can tell. (I think it was one of my dad's brothers!) Our Santa came stomping and pounding into the house. He carried a big white stick and thumped it on the floor for dramatic effect. My brothers and I concentrated on not peeing our britches. After we sang whatever song Santa wanted to hear, he would ask if we'd been good. Then we struggled with saying, "Yes?" or telling the truth. Anyone who had committed a recent infraction would be reminded of it. "So, Dickie, have you used your bow and arrow to shoot any more of your brother's teeth out since I left the North Pole?"

continued...

DON'T PANIC!