It's December... already?

Maybe I'm just in a bad mood today... but really? It's December already?

It's a magical time for children. Snow may begin to snow (if it hasn't already). The kiddos look forward to that week and half off of school. Their minds turn on St. Nicholas and Santa. They start the count down and begin making "their lists". They get excited over the lights and festivities.

The stores are crowded and parking lots are worse.  Customer support lines across the oceans keep you on hold and when you reach a person you can't even understand three consecutive words in a row. You schedule gets tighter and fuller with "holiday concerts", company parties, family and friends. All of sudden your budget seems more stretched.  That "one gift" that you are trying to find seems to not be anywhere.

Oh December, you are the craziest month of the year. You are bittersweet.  With the joy and chaos of the season. With the happy and bitter memories you bring to mind.You test my patience and endurance. You bring so many of my favorite treats. Why this love/hate relationship? You are cruel with the darkening of each morning and the shortening of each day.

I find myself full of Grinch one moment and full of hope and spirit and love the next.

Most devastating is that the New Year comes behind you and I'm struggling with not making my achievements this year. My time has run out. Year after year I promise that things will be different and when I get to you, December, relatively few things have changed.

Today I will be cranky with you. Especially have more than an hour of customer service phone calls to get "Santa's order" just right.  Tomorrow I will see lights and be filled with memories and love.