When you are a kid you often think this is what I want for Christmas? You begin asking for things that materialize on the TV or pop up on your Internet screen,or during your shows.and dropping hints to you and your parents to buy,buy,and buy.You often see and begin to look for the items you want far before Christmas. The selling game usedto begin on the weekend after Thanksgiving. Now it begins with Halloween, Halloween and Christmas have become two of the largest sales events of the year.Trick or treat time begans a mad rush ending with Christmas.

How many of you begin to think about getting a gift for your parents or Grandparents as early and as often?Some of you do I know. many would like to get something but you don’t have any green, Frog Skins,Dead Presidents,or Dust! You get tired of asking your parents and trying to figure it out what they really would like or need.My grown children always ask me what I would like I say keep it simple and say,you can’t go wrong with food or Starbuck Christmas Blend coffee.
One of my major addictions! LOLOLThat is a good starting point. A gift of a good Honeycrisp apple,or two or better yet three then I will make a salad!LOL is a great for me.I also like a good plate of warm soda biskets or and a little maple syrup or bass wood blossom honey especially if someone makes them and serves them warm.I also like all forms of Licorice.

Well you aren’t buying for me but you watch yor parents and Grandparents all summer see what simple things they really like and prepare,buy,or get for themselves.You will soon see a pattern that is really their mental favorite bar. When the Holiday comes you can get it for them.

If you don’t have any money,try these gifts,you have to mean it from the heart! If their is a behavior you do that just drives a parent up a wall write a nice note that you are going to modify that particular behavior this year. then really work on it. Put a rubber band on your wrist and every time you start to get into that behavior mode snap the rubber band instead. You don’t even need to tell anyone you did that.

There are many other things you can do give a parent a note that tells them you are going to join them in an activity that you don’t really care for but you are going to do it with them because it is something they enjoy.Finally determine out of all the daily activities your parent does which job do they hate doing the most. Don’t say anything but do that job for them without being asked just out of the blue if they don’t notice at first,do it again until they notice that you are doing it for them,

All of this probably sounds old fashoned trite,or even weird to some of you, but remember a gift given freely without strings attached or the thought of return ,does in fact return four fold I am told and the most precious gift is of your time!

Last but not least in some way just simply honor your parents or Grandparents in some way. Give them a good 1/2 or hour of your time,maybe a hour,or three whatever you can spare and wish them a happy Holiday in the belief system that is the closest to your heart and even if you don’t hear or experience it very often give them a big hug and say I love you out of the blue.Three little words that modern society has made it so difficult to say in a ordinary way, I love you Grandma and say her name,I love you Grampa and say his name, I love you Mom and say her name and Dad the same,given with a real hug is Sometimes this is the greatest gift of all.

Thanks for reading this rambling,Merry Christmas From LA.

Woody

P.S. That drawing is of me helping my Grandfather,many years ago, getting the water on a cold January day in Northern Michigan.