Visiting my daughter and her family after Thanksgiving, I discovered that my two-year-old grandson was entranced by the lights outside of people's houses. He kept wanting to drive or walk down the street and gaze; he couldn't figure out why we couldn't just remove the twinkling strings and take them home with us. At a mall coffee shop with an endless loop of Muzak-y carols, I asked the woman behind the counter if the music wasn't driving her crazy. "I wish every day was Christmas," she said. It all made me think about how cynical I sometimes feel about the season, particularly given all the news accounts regarding whether we'll buy enough junk to boost the economy, and the slew of sentimental and/or would-be funny theatrical offerings I usually endure this time of year. The truth is, part of me loves Christmas lights just as much as two-year-old Clarkie does and thrills every year at having a fragrant green tree... More >>>