Happy Holidays!

You know, it's that time of year when we count our blessings, find the good in our fellow man, and really make the season bright and happy.

Well, unless you're busy getting rid of the problem.

Let me make myself clear.

During the holidays, things tend to either REALLY be good, or REALLY be crap.

For example:

My best friend was fired from his job THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING. Happy holidays, you're fired, go try to find work someplace else in this shitty economy.

A friend of the family is going through a divorce. Happy holidays! Here's to weekly visitation, shitty attitude, and finding out just how much more of a jerk your soon-to-be ex-husband really can be!

Another friend of the family was dumped by her lover. Happy holidays, hit the road, I've got someone new who's closer to my age, and isn't going to prove to be a problem when I want to go out and party.

Now, I get to follow suit.

Happy holidays. You've changed. You're MUCH better than where you were when we met. HOWEVER, because I can't forgive or forget the past, you're doomed to repeat your mistakes, and for that I just can't deal with you anymore.

Hope you find someone else, and have a better life. Why? Because I'm not going to try anymore.

Excuse me?

From what I recall, marriage is NEVER an easy road. All of the "successful" married folks I've talked to have said that it's a long, painful and difficult 24-7-365 JOB. You've got to WORK at it. It doesn't just happen, and "poof!" everything you ever want or needed drops into your lap with a nice bow around it.

It takes dedication. It takes time. It takes WORK and COMMITMENT.

Sure. There are times when the problems are going to fall thick and heavy, and you feel that you can't gain a breath while treading water. That you're going under, and there's no life preserver around to grasp onto.

THAT'S LIFE.

But even then, you've got to be willing to fight for what you want. You've got to be willing to drop it all, and focus on that ONE THING that you want more than anything else.

In my case, I'm willing to drop everything, including y'all, if it means I'd be able to have this marriage back.

I want my wife. I want my kids. I want a happy home.

The question is:

What does she want?

I mean, it's great that I want it and all, but marriage isn't just a one-way street.

I could give, and give, and give until I have nothing left. But if she doesn't assist, it still falls well short, doesn't it?

So here's my Christmas Wish:

Give me back my family. Let me have my home. Give me back my loving wife.

That's all I want for Christmas.

Please.. If you're out there, can you help me make this come true?

I hope so.

Merry Christmas!!

Well, today I'll be doing the hustle and bustle to get kids, wife and dog around to as many family as I can manage..

Yeah, her family and mine live in the same town we do, so we try to pack the entire holiday into about 10 hours of complete madness.

Luckily, there's some kind of twisted formula my wife uses to be able to figure out who's house we go to first.

If it's on a even year, but not a leap year, then we go to her parent's house first.

If it's leap year, we go to her parent's first.

If it's an odd year, we go to her parent's house....

Wait.

Did she trick me?

I'm thinking so!

Whatever her reasons, we end up being at her folks first each Christmas. We celebrate with them, give and get gifts, and eat.

Then, we make a quick stop at the house, unload everything gotten from her parents, load up the gifts for my folks, and go to their house.

Then follows round two of Christmas. Gifts given and received, food eaten, and a bit of conversation.

Once this is over, and food coma is beginning to set in, we pack it all up again, and head home.

This then leads to the LAST part of Christmas, when we have the family time..

Gifts are given and received, yet more food is eaten, and then as my wife and I clean, the kids get to play with all of the goodies they've gotten...

Once the madness settles down, I find my comfortable spot, whether in my overstuffed recliner, or in my comfortable corner on the couch, and watch the mayhem of new toys and excited kids.

Ah, Christmas...

Where else can you drive yourself crazy to get things done, only to reminisce, and look forward to the next time?

Merry Christmas to all!