But what it doesn’t do is stress me out over holiday shopping!  Let’s be honest here – I love to shop any time of the year.  It doesn’t bother me to go to the mall, to find a cute little boutique, or to hunt down a charming locally owned shop.  It’s fun for me.  As is picking out the perfect gift for someone.

This process has led me to realize that there isn’t a whole lot that I need at Christmas time – at least in the way of presents.  I’m blessed to be gainfully employed in a job that I enjoy and to be earning money blogging about travel (my passion).  I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food on the table.  I have everything that I need, and most of what I want.  In fact, I really have too much stuff, and am concentrating more on the intangible riches of life – relationships, experiences, and enjoyment.

After purchasing a few gifts, and I mean a very few, I focused my energy and funds on adopting a family that is facing some challenges this Christmas time.  The family is an older single mom with a five year old little boy with special needs.  This is a family who has challenges every time of the year, and it just shouldn’t be that way at Christmas.  Because Christmas is for kids.  And that dear, sweet little boy, who faces challenges and complications every day of his life, should wake up on Christmas morning and be able to forget about all of that – even if it’s just for one day.  He should find presents beneath his tree and have a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.  And mom, who gives everything to make life better for that little boy, should have some things to make her life easier, too.  A few things for around the house, and maybe a special, pretty something that’s all for her.

Today I went shopping for my special adopted family, working from a list that United Way (the agency who matched up the adoption) filled out for them.  The list divided up the urgent needs and special wants for each person.  Just reading the list made me get all weepy.  These requests were so incredibly modest – a shower curtain, socks and underwear, and a hair cut.  United Way asks that we get at least one gift for each person, along with providing a holiday meal.  One gift just didn’t seem right –- and no one’s Christmas present should just be a shower curtain.

So I went a little crazy.  And a bought bunches of stuff.  I was like a kid in a candy shop, picking out all the urgent needs, and lots of the special wants as well.  I can’t change this family’s circumstances, that is far beyond my ability.  But I want this family, so rich in love, to have some tangible riches as well.  That I have the ability to do.

If you are blessed this holiday season, give your local United Way a call and ask if they have any more families that need adopting for Christmas.  The list is long, the need is high, and chances are there’s a family that could use a little helping hand.  Even at this late date, there is a family waiting. . . and hoping.  Do it because it feels good.  Do it because you don’t need any more stuff.  Do it because you’re giving back or paying it forward.  Do it because Christmas is for kids.  And everyone should get to be a kid at Christmas.

Photo credit: SXC

Fields of sunflowers in Tuscany, July 2009

1. Sunflowers
2. Gelato
3. Lake Maggiore
4. Isola Madre
5. Isola Bella (and yes, I know it’s gaudy and over-the-top)
6. Latte de Luna (with wild mushroom soup that’s to-die-for)
7. Brunello wine
8. Giuseppe and La Montalla
9. Florence (so much beautiful art)
10. Trevi Fountain in Rome (I threw in 3 coins, just to ensure my return)
11. Vatican (history and art, religion and politics)
12. Fashion and fashionably dressed men and women
13. Cafes and cappuccino
14. Hills towns in Tuscany
15. Beautiful churches (every town has a dozen)
16. Pecorino cheese
17. Stopping the car to let sheep cross the road
18. The beautiful language (that I must learn)
19. Limoncello
20. Tomato and onion salad
21. Wild boar pasta (actually, any kind of pasta at all!)
22. Vineyard and olive orchards
23. Cypress trees
24. Internet access (yes, in the middle of a vineyard, there’s still wi-fi)
25. History and a sense of how very young the U.S. is

What do you love about Italy?

Photo credit:  Mary Jo Manzanares

No trip would be complete, without talking time to at least stroll down the Avenue.  Better yet, take time to stop off for a cafe au lait and watch the world go by.   Better still, a little shopping spree!

Avenue des Champs Elysees in Paris, France

The Ancient Ruins of the Roman Coliseum

The fun part of all of this, is that it’s going to look so nice when it’s all done.

The not so fun part of all of this, is that I’m having to learn a lot of tech stuff, and that means that there are gong to be lots of mistakes.

So please — I ask for your patience, please.  Check back here again, and see how much changes between visits.  And look for an announcement again when everything is all wrapped up and looking pretty.

There’s only one of me.  How many of you are there?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 1 or fewer people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Unless you’re really drunk, or really need a photo to commemorate your vacation, just say “no thanks” and keep on walking.

This past week, while attending the opening night Pow-Wow party, they had parrots galore to pose with us – and for no charge.  So I seized the moment.

Occasionally, everyone needs a parrot on their shoulder.

The decision to get him wasn’t an easy one.  I had lost a dear pet who had called my home “his” for about 16 years.  You can never replace a pet, but after some grieving time, you realized that your heart can expand a little bit more to include someone new.  Besides, Misha (the other 4-legged household resident) was starting to get a little cranky without a playmate.

So Socks arrived.  And he crept into my life, my heart, and even my bed.

I don’t usually blog about my pets, but I just sort of felt the urge.  I came home after a trip, and this little guy curled up in my lap and spent the afternoon purring.  If I got up, he’s wait patiently for my return and then pick his spot once again.

Life is good, and my world a better place, because of the adorable little 4-footed friend.  It’s also hard to get writer’s block when you’ve got someone purring you on to creativity.

Anyone else blog with their pets?

Photo:  personal collection

Yep, sure.  Most of the times.  And that appears to be the sole argument over why something hasn’t been done to prohibit or have returned the obscene sum of moneys given out to leaders of a miserably failing company.

That argument just doesn’t hold weight with me.

What about those private contracts for airline employees?  In bailing out that industry the government had no problem setting up a pension board that stripped money from retirees.  If that’s not re-writing a contract, what is?  Oh wait – that’s because the airline said that needed to do that to stay afloat.  Right. . . .

Well, what about when a individual files for bankruptcy protection?  Re-negotiation of contracts occurs, and sometimes, depending on timing and circumstances, contracts are declared voidable.  Isn’t that, in essence, a re-writing of the contract?

Why is it that the only contracts that can’t be re-written, or someone found voidable, are those in this failing financial industry.

I’m not an economist by any means, but it seems like all businesses and individuals in bail out or bankruptcy situations should have to face the same music.  And that means contracts are going to be scrutinized, and possible voided.

Why are we accepting anything less?

Photo:  SXC

First there was the period where it was my grandparent’s, then parent’s, generation that was the cause of all the funerals.  It was sad, often tragic, but it was a part of the understandable circle of life.  People get old and then die.  It’s the way things are supposed to work.

Then one day, death hit my generation.

All of a sudden it wasn’t about distant relatives or “old” people.  Death struck people I knew.  People that were only a few years older than me, and on some occasions, even younger.  It wasn’t right, and it wasn’t fair.  Death sucks!

I’m grieving right now for a friend who had a massive heart attack and left us suddenly.  He leaves behind a wonderfully charming and beautiful wife, along with a son and grandchild.  His sudden passing leaves a hole in a circle of friends that will never be quite the same again.

Unfortunately, I’m going to need to travel this path again – and I fear it will be in the near future.  Death has met my generation, and is apparently making really good friends with it.  No matter how I try, I can only keep it away temporarily.

I’m trying to be strong, to be a good friend, to be supportive, and to keep memories in a happy heart.  But death really sucks!

Image credit:  SXC

My remaining cat, Misha, was bereft without a buddy to play with.  And while you can never “replace” a lost pet, you can open your heart and welcome someone new into your home.

It’s going to take while for everyone to adjust, but I think this is the beginning of a warm, loving friendship.

Take a look at what some of my blogging friends have done with Photo Friday.

Photo credit:  personal collection