Oh, Christmas blog, Oh, Christmas blog...

    Oh, Christmas Blog, Oh, Christmas Blog,  My thoughts are never ending... I'll write until my mind is gone...(some may say I have reached that point already), but I won't stop until I'm done...Oh, Christmas Blog, Oh, Christmas Blog, my thoughts are overflowing!!!  With many apologies to the author of that song...( never was one of my favorites, anyhow), we have reached the seasonal message portion of our continuing blog (Musings from the Desert).

     Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Holidays (take your pick)!  I wish each and every one of my faithful readers and the unfaithful ones, too...(that doesn't sound right...but to me it does!) a joyous and prosperous and safe and wonderful Holiday Season.  As Christmas is now in the rear view mirror, I want to take a minute to share my Holiday musings...I wanted to get them in before the crowds jam into the stores for the after-Christmas riots (I mean sales).  Keeping that Christmas spirit alive by beating on each other for the last half-price blender or CD or whatever useless, unnecessary item catches your fancy.  After a day of family, food and good feelings, it's time to return to the usual idiotic behavior that takes a breather around these holidays.  Am I a cynic? Hell, yes! Am I wrong? Hell, no!  I have done my research...I have gone to the malls after Christmas...(not to shop but to observe the chaos).  It starts in the parking lots where tempers flare and horns blare and eyes glare and I stare (in disbelief) at the vehicular warfare over a parking space!  It's the day after Christmas and fistfights are about to start in a parking lot that has 10,000 spaces too many for the amount of shoppers!  It's Arizona...it's beautiful outside...walk a little, you damn fools!  Peace on Earth and Good Will toward Men...I guess that doesn't pertain to after-Christmas sales and parking lots.

     My Christmas Day was spent working 14 hours of the 24 hour day...(no sympathy please,no "poor me" is intended).  It was my Christmas gift to my co-workers who have families here and so I work to give them some family time.  Do they appreciate it? That's a story for another time. (HA!) Do I care if they appreciate it? No. It makes me feel good and it doesn't cost me anything but some time...(very frugal, don't you think?).  I spent a lot of the work time greeting residence and their families and spreading my unique version of Christmas cheer.  I also spent some time reflecting on the past year and thanking God for the enormous amounts of blessings He has given me.  My health, including the aches and pains of experience (read that as old age), my ability to work and do my job so that I can afford to live here, my eyesight, to take in the beauty of this world and His awesome panorama of sunrises and sunsets, my sense of humor and unique perspective (ask my nieces about this one), my sobriety (without His overwhelming Grace none of this would be possible), my family, Sloca Nation and my sister and her great family, my cousins and aunts and uncles on both sides...(without their love and support my life would be pretty empty), my friends who give me constant joy and support and endless laughs and memories...the list goes on and on, but I hope you see my point.  Christmas isn't about what you get...it's about what you have already.  It's not about presents under the tree (although they are nice), it's about appreciating the presents you already have.  It's about the ultimate gift that God gave us...His Son Jesus.

     It is the time for New Year's resolutions and yes, I would love to lose weight and eat healthier, go to the gym more and get more exercise but those are selfish goals and they should be a part of my everyday life.  I have a resolution that I want to keep this year and work on for the rest of my time here on Earth.  I want to be a better friend.  I want to give more of my time to people who are in need.  I want to strive to appreciate things I have and not complain about my situation.  I want to be a role model.  I want to be more of the man my father was and more of the man my Father in heaven wants me to be.  I want His blessings to continue for me, but I want them to come to you even more. Don't worry...I'll still be the crazy (unique perspective) blogging idiot that I am.  I will still strive to entertain and enlighten while I can and use God's gift of gab (I think I got in this line more than once) in my musings.  Enjoy the rest of the Holiday Season.  Remember those who aren't as blessed and fortunate as we are...Remember our soldiers who can't be home with their families...Remember the "Reason for the Season".  God Bless Us All!