16

I used to love the countdown to Christmas when I was a kid. You know, like on the evening news when the anchor would announce "Only 16 days left to Christmas!" - I suppose to wake up anyone who hadn't done their shopping yet.

I've known people who only shop on Christmas Eve. They love it. They go out and spend hours getting the gifts they need. Mind you, these people are all men. Since men pretty much only shop for their wives I suppose its not too difficult. Women on the other hand could never leave it all until Christmas Eve. Not only do they have too many gifts to buy, they also have a meal to plan for - maybe two. In fact, most women are home cooking Christmas Eve dinner, trying to squeeze it all in between church and getting the packages out under the tree. Ad maybe preparing something for tomorrow's meal as well. So, I would be willing to guess that 80% of the people in the malls on Christmas Eve are men. Or single women.

Most people wait until the first of December to start their shopping. I can't do that - I'm too uptight to wait that late and I need to know things are bought and wrapped and ready before I can do other things like bake cookies and entertain.

The most disappointing thing about Christmas for me every year is the fact that there simply are too many things to do and I can't do them all. One night there may be a Christmas concert, a party, and a movie. I know last Sunday I was sad that I couldn't go to a breakfast being put on at one church because I had to be in my own for early choir practice because we were doing our Christmas concert the same day. If only one of those things had been the next Sunday I could have done them both but alas, I had to be at rehearsal.

And thus the entire month goes by with more things to do than I have time for and every year I wish I could split myself in two and do more. Once a year we have all these opportunities and then when December is over, they're gone. And its a long winter.

Only 16 days left.