Yankee Swaps Are Not In The Spirit of Xmas

But I tried to fix that for one little girl.

The kids went first. When she opened her gift and saw she got a Barnes and Noble gift card she was so psyched, but then the next person to go took that and she ended up with a gift card to GameStop.

All the joy drained from her face.

After the kids, the adults went. When it was my turn, I asked her which gift she thought I should choose. She pointed to the one with the plainest wrapping - just green tissue paper, no ribbons or bows. I tore it open to reveal an Italian Cookbook. She looked interested so, even though it was "against the rules," I sidled up next to her and asked, "Is this a book you would like? Do you cook?" She replied with a resounding "Yes!" So, I traded with her.

Her face lit up, she hugged the book, and ran to her folks to point out all the things she would cook in it for them.

Now that's what Xmas is all about.

Plus I got a GameStop gift card! Word.

Midnight Madness

Was it a delusion? A figment of my imagination that I had some higher purpose? I once believed with all my heart that I was put on this Earth to do something -- what, I'm not so sure.

Now, I've lost my sense of purpose, my direction. I'm a compass spinning with no true North.

I feel like I'm waiting for something to happen -- something big, but I don't know what it is or how long I have to wait and I don't want to waste my time. My life.

So, alien hive mind -- or god -- whatever you call it -- hear me now, tell me now, send me a message...

Show me the way...

I'm lost in a sea of shadows waiting for the daybreak, a ray of informed hope, like VALIS, to instruct me. Hear me. See me. Know me. Read my fortune. My future.