But ever since Mike came into my life, the holidays had to take a different hue. He was in love with the holidays. He embraced it with all the flair his inner child could attest. I really couldn’t blame him since he did have a home where they decorated a tree and gave each other presents on Christmas morning.

He wanted our home to be as warm as his was in his youth. So during our first holiday together, I was subjected to a number of traditional Yuletide traditions that I would have otherwise detested.

The hardest part for me was the tree. Oddly enough having Mike tell me stories about how he used to make ornaments for their tree when he was little made decorating less of a chore. Then he put up an angel that he made himself. I was almost sure that in the years to come that angel would always be there.

New Year’s Eve was a blast as well. For one thing, I had started the year with the man I would spend all my years with.

This actually made me feel sad that it was the end of the holidays. Oh well…there is always next year.

But having to wander through the bookstores and toy stores with hordes of families pouring from all directions is my version of hell. It was like I was slowly being drowned in shrieks. I had contemplated online shopping for everything but had decided that it was easier to see for myself than having to ask people to return things on such a busy holiday.

So year after year, I put myself through the sweaty and grueling torture of buying toys that would be broken in a few months and clothes that they would outgrow by next year. And always I wonder why we have to bother. I wish I could just send them a Christmas card and be done with it. Why does love have to come in a box during this season? I could only imagine if the song came true that everyday should be like Christmas. I would probably faint.

But whenever I see the look on my nieces and nephew’s faces I remember that Christmas was not exactly for little old me. It was for those millions of innocent children who look forward to the rewards of a year of being a nice kid.

That almost makes shopping bearable.