Time out. It is nice to visit and eat rich food. To laugh and play games. Isn't it odd that we all agree to take time at once. Our need for peace and calm occasionally overwhelms our need for commerce. We give gifts--some needed, like socks; some useless, like another Christmas decoration; some fattening, cookies and pies; some beautiful and emotional, diamonds and other sparklers. A hug, a smile, and a laugh with a friend is about as good as it gets. A nap is a nice bonus too. Don't get enough naps. I bought myself a treasure back in the summer, a hundred years old and beautiful, and it sits under the tree enwrapped, waiting a Christmas opening. Then it will take a place on the mantel for me to look at every day. Mrs. G got a new techno toy that was too cool to put under the tree and it has already fallen into use.

Who would think we'd buy time in minutes, give gifts on cards, text message, email Christmas cards, watch homemade video on the computer, emailing audio, bank online (my son says he only needs cash for the barbershop), tivo, buy everything from amazon.com, wireless tools, bluetooth, cook dinner in 4 minutes, have global positioning devices in our children's phones so we can locate them 24/7. My fireplace alights with the flip of a switch. My aquarium is on my computer screen and the fish are immortal.

Merry Christmas to all.