Now that my sisters and I are grown up with our own families, it’s really been ages since we’ve celebrated any big holiday under one roof. The last time we did that was about 3 Christmases ago, at my house, right after my younger sister’s fall wedding and some months before my older sister’s wedding. When Thanksgiving then Christmas rolls around, I often wonder what it’s like to have a tradition of everyone flying home to grandma’s for the holidays.

I have my own tradition of spending New Year’s eve in some city where I’ve not seen the year end before, and it looks like this year I’ll do that again. But in all honesty, the 25th and 31st of December have become just another day in our house. You might say the commercialization of the holidays has sent me running away from the celebration all together….even if Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year.  

But before you say bah humbug, I’ll confess that one of my most memorable experiences was one NYE spent in Argentina. We carried suitcases, ate a grape, and walked backwards–all while the clock was striking midnight. We were told by the hosting family that as silly as it all was, it was a guarantee of good luck in the new year. I don’t know about the luck part but that trip set my imagination aflutter…and helped me diagnose myself: restlessness was a symptom, and travel was my cure.

Anyway, this post began when I started my online search for cool stocking stuffers. I don’t know what’s on anyone’s wish list this year yet, so the pressie hunt will be challenging. But so far I’ve managed to finally snag mini Karl for my own stocking.  A pressie from me to me! I hounded the NY store for a few months until the item showed up online. I bet they’re glad I can stop calling them now.

Do you have any cool present ideas for me?