I buy about five Christmas cards for the people I know it will mean a lot to. I don't bother sending out the bulk cards anymore. It's a waste of time, money and energy better spent on family. When I owned my business in a mall, I saw what Christmas did to people and it wasn't pretty. We've maxed out the stress of a holiday that shouldn't be stressful.

My 33-year old daughter is trying to guilt trip me because David and I are going to Paris for Christmas to see my sister and her husband. I told her to save that guilt trip for her husband when she gets married! I think I've earned the right, if nothing more than aging, to go where I want, when I want and with whom I want!