Holiday23A

I'm kind of an asshole. I'm cranky with most folks that I know. I say rude things to make people go away. Sometimes I even humiliate people so they will think before they speak in my presence. Sometimes I come across like an angry little man with a mental disorder.

I'm comfortable being me, though, so it all evens out.

Anyway, around the end of November every year, the local battered women shelter asks me to be Santa Claus for their Christmas party. They ask me because I am the greatest Santa ever. (they gave me a certificate that says so)

I don't know all the stories behind these women and kids that end up at the shelter, but I know that they have all had rough lives. One kid in particular this year got my attention. He had that hollow-eyed ghost gaze that people get when they probably don't need anymore stress. He was doing his best to have a good time with his mom, and she was doing her best to be a good parent, but you could tell that they were both in new territory.

So anyway, I'm sitting on my Santa chair, doing Santa stuff, when this kid I'm talking about gets a turn to sit in my lap. I did the usual "Ho Ho Ho" thing and asked his name, and asked if he was good, and then I asked what he wanted for Christmas. He looked me dead in the eye, and with all hope and honesty he said, "I just want to have a good Christmas."

I had to struggle for almost a minute not to lose my composure.

Sometimes I lose my way, just like anyone. This blog started as something very real to me, and then for awhile it became an extension of my ego. I had become an entertainer, and my serious ideas weren't as fun as the asshole stuff.

Then this sweet little kid comes along and ruins it for me.

I'm kind of funny, and I will probably continue to be, but that stuff really isn't what this blog is about. The point here is that we need to work toward a better life-for ourselves and our children and our communities and our country and our neighbors, etc., etc.

If you're into resolutions, try this one: I am going to do my best to improve the world in some small way over the next year.

While you are going through your daily life and pissing and moaning about your daily stresses, maybe you could take the time to write a letter to Congress suggesting that they secure the border, or open more US oil wells, or put strict conditions on monetary aid to Mexico (or anywhere else).

Lots of families will spend the next year missing Daddy while he goes off to Iraq to fight the fight and represent our country. The very least that we can do in return is give a shit about the state of our nation.