Saturday was a day we did most of the things you mean to do around the holiday season. Friday I had written an article for my hometown community website talking a bit about local charity. Not the usual “send money to so and so” sort of stuff that tends to make our hearing go bad, but a couple simple, easy, very local things we could do to help local kids have a better holiday. It’s funny sometimes how we can donate to global causes while letting the kid down the street go without supper. Anyway to climb off the soap box, Saturday was the day we went and did those little things ourselves.

Afterward we were off to finish up our Christmas shopping. Our family is small so we are not drawn into all the wild ways people distribute gifts. No lots are drawn or dollar limits placed. We can still simply get presents for our family members. Yet again we note that not all can afford this riot of commercialism. We remind everyone gifts are fun, but not important. What is important is that everyone gather. Just finding the dedication to show up each year can be quite a gift.

Then in the evening my daughter came to visit and so I could take a holiday pic for her and her boyfriend. I planted them up against the Christmas tree and lit their faces with a desk lamp. (I don’t think the one above is the one they plan to use!!) Then we wrapped ourselves up and went night sledding at the local university. Here in Baraboo it seems every educational building is placed on a hill. (Thus as some would suggest, the educated can properly look down upon the community in righteous scorn!! ) The upswing is that there are a couple great sledding hills where you park on top and launch under the streetlights into the darkness below.

If you haven’t learned by now, kayaking makes you pretty good at sled control as well!.

Good times.

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1. Where it Comes From
2. Happy Holidays, Get Stuffed!
3. Do You Like Fish?
4. The Monday After
5. this life