I admit to being a bit cranky this holiday season. The forced good cheer is leaving me tattered, like I’ve been subjected to a windstorm in the desert. Maybe that’s being dramatic. But it’s the holidays, so I am allowed. That and some Baileys in my coffee.

I’m trying to whip up the jubilant feelings, really I am.

At my recent annual check-up, I waited expectantly for my doctor to ask that usual question, “Do you have any complaints?” Meaning, of course, complaints about pain or malfunctioning bodily functions. She never asked! But, I was ready to reply, “Why yes, I do have some complaints.”

I would say, for one thing, my grandson lives much too far away for me to pop in to babysit. I am missing a lot between visits. Also, some of my oldest and dearest friends have moved away just when it would be nicest to have them nearby. To catch an afternoon movie, to meet for lunch, to drop in for coffee. The grown kids don’t listen to my sage advice, which by the way is honed by experience and wisdom. We don’t all lose brain cells with our collagen you know. Speaking of which, my wrinkles have spawned neighborhood branches. But in the scheme of things, who cares? I do my best with skin routines, as my mother would say, “I’m not going down without a fight!”

While I am kvetching, does anyone else miss the days when we all watched the same news on just three networks? You would have to be old, of course. We never considered they had any other agenda other than informing us, gratefully just once each day. As a former journalist, I know we learn much more now about what is happening in the world, and I cannot stop watching and reading—but maybe it’s too much. Did we even know if Walter Cronkite was a democrat or republican? I seriously have no idea. Maybe you do, but don’t tell me. I do not care.

I’m not going to list all my grievances, I promise. That would be for Festivus. So just a couple of things about the holidays and I’ll stop. If you are not sure if someone celebrates Christmas, just say Happy Holidays. Isn’t that easy? Trust me, it will avoid lots of bristling from non-Christians.

And if you send out one of those year-end missives, of what you have been up to all year, try to include at least one horrible terrible thing in the list of your travels and celebrations. Like the time little Wyatt threw up all over you as your plane took off for a seven hour trip. I would personally love that detail.

What underlies my crankiness has little to do with the above, I realize. The state of the world weighs on us all. The precipice we teeter on as the next election approaches. The hatred that has been unleashed in so many ways. If you are not cranky, I don’t think you have blood in your veins.

Ok, I am settling down.

I have my own rules for survival in the new year, and maybe you share them.

Be kind. Be tolerant. Listen to others you don’t agree with. Accept people as they are. Give in at times. Stand up when you can. Love fully. Read a book.

Happy Holidays!

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