Liz . . . Wishing you more of your laughter and your sheer joy of life that makes you such a stand-out to me. You “live life to the fullest” when you have the chance, and I find YOU to be the person to emulate - and only wish you were with us at our loveliest of Christmases as it always is — as baby, you would have A BALL!!! Merry merry, Liz Smith — and may next year be another good one for this one vibrant lady!!! Joan

So far, the recession has not stopped my traditions. All I wanted was to visit my sons and daughter-in-law and I did that. We had a great time among the decorations my younger son always insists on putting up and adding even more every year. They are the very decorations I had up when we all lived together as a family. One little tradition was added: a new puppy in my older son’s life… a little terrier puppy named Yogi. He became the center of attention. Above all, the hugs, kisses, thank yous, coffee, treats, smiles… all were my best presents… no recession will ever interfere with those presents!

I have a large family and I begin shopping for gifts in June. My Christmas will be the same no matter what. Merry Christmas Liz, and all my new peeps on this site.

Shame on the Scrooges I work for wealthy people (more than 50) and hustle year round for them. This year I received only ONE Christmas gift from the lot of them. I can’t help but think they are using the current economy as an excuse to be Scrooges. I gave gifts to many people this year who perform services like the parking lot attendant, the office cleaner, etc. and I’m not weathly by anyone’s standards. People should be remembered at Christmastime. Shame on the Scrooges—following the laws of reciprocity, the tighter they clench their fists the more their own blessings will dry up.

If Santa is real I wish he would remember me. My granddaughter and I had popcorn for Christmas dinner and we were lucky to have that. I already got the bad news that my SSI went up by $40.00, the food stamps will drop from $6.00 a day to $5.50 a day for the both of us and rent will raise by $61.00. So as every year goes I will start out the year even more in the hole. All I want from Santa is help getting my art and photography and poetry careers going. People are not going to help. I have spent twenty years finding that out, every since I became disabled. My resources not my legs are my greatest handicap. I have been told that God has no hands but our hands. I use my hands for good every day. But I have yet to see others doing the same. I need a miracle. I just don’t think I can beleive in them anymore other than the ones I bring to other people.