It's almost over...and it's only just begun!

It's almost over:

So I’m approaching the end of NaNoWriMo. I’m at a word count of 40K and I think I can squeeze out another 5 or 6K before the end of the month. So I didn’t win. But I’m not a loser.

I got a lot accomplished and almost none of what I’ve written makes me cringe so maybe (just maybe) when I finish the revision process will go easier.

...and it's only just begun:

And now we are full swing into the holiday season. I have mixed emotions about the holidays. I honestly can’t decide whether I love them or hate them. Stores and malls can be filled with some of the most vile types on the Friday after Thanksgiving and the last Saturday before Christmas. Though I’ve never personally witnessed any hissing, fisting, grappling, and trampling over the last [insert grossly-overpriced-plastic-good-that-whirs-giggles-or-beeps here] I think that's only because I stay home on those days. The idea of it saddens me. I couldn’t enjoy television last night because every single commercial set began a jewelry store that implies a woman’s affection can be purchased with diamonds. It was followed by a commercial from another jewelry store that implied that a woman needs multi-diamond necklace to remind her of the special occasions in her life. It was a terrific trifecta when the commercial set was closed with one where a woman was complaining that expensive household appliances and mattress were gifts inferior to her brand new Cadillac.

Ugh.

The commercialism of the holiday can be overwhelming and disheartening.

Then, when I believe I’m at my wit’s end, I experience something that reminds me that there are people out there that still remember the good of the holiday. Such the case last night. It was late and I was at my nearby superstore looking for cold medicine. There was a worn and weary grandmother trying to deal with a screaming 3 year old. Screaming is an understatement. When it comes to kids I have the patience of Job but this kid’s screeches sent trills down my spine. While wrestling with the kid so he didn’t jump out of the bas-cart and hurt himself, the grandmother’s handbag fell and spilled out everywhere. I dropped to my knees to help gather all her scattered belongings and as I was crawling along the store floor I realized there were no fewer than six of us doing the same thing. While we were gathering up her stuff one of the managers on duty came over opened the toy the child was screaming about and started to play with him right there, advising the woman she could finish her shopping, they would be there playing. The grandmother hesitated and said the boy had special needs. The manager smiled and told the woman she had an autistic child at home and recognized the tantrum.

The boy was quiet. The manager was fully engaged with him. The grandmother’s handbag was full of its contents and set right in the bas-cart and we all went back to doing what we do.

I wish they had holiday commercials like that.

Contest Announcement:
Time for a new contest! The winner will receive an autographed copy of my book and one of MY (Oprah? Forgeddabout her...) Favorite Things: a Lush gift card. You'll get the gift card by email so you can pamper, mollycoddle, indulge and spoil yourself through the holidays.

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