Just One More Thing

"My Son's birthday is coming up. Technically He's not my son, but I helped raise Him since the day He was born. And boy oh boy, what a day that was. We weren't quite ready yet for Him to be here, but He was entering this world one way or another! And there were so many people there! They all wanted to be there to help us celebrate His arrival. Even His actual Father was there, so that was cool to have the whole family present. Over the years my boy grew into a tremendous young man. Sure He never piled up the Little League trophies or got straight As, but He was a compassionate kid. Always striving to assist other people and in general be a good person. He was a fine handyman, too. That boy could woodowork with the best of 'em. I taught Him everything He knows, of course.  I like to think that putting in that effort at the shop taught Him a lot about life. About refining the fine details and waiting for the final product. He was always able to step back...

"Tis the season to be jolly." Ho-ho-hold on a hot second. Let me first clarify by saying that I love being jolly. I think it's quite dandy. There's always time to be chipper and always more room in the world for cheery people. But come this time of year I think people can start getting excited for the wrong reasons. Exhibit A: Black Friday. The people rest their case, Your Honor. I was sitting around watching some TV a few weeks back before Thanksgiving and I was absolutely flabbergasted by the times stores were opening at for the non-holiday-holiday. There were people who cut their Thanksgivings short to take part in the maddening festivities and I think it speaks to the degradation of holidays in our country and the complete consumption of materialism our society endures. Think about all the holidays, not just Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fourth of July? Bet you thought of cookouts and fireworks. St. Patrick's Day? Bet you envisioned green clothing and bee...