The warmth of Christmas

We've gone a little crazy with Christmas cards and letters this year, finally getting a big batch of them into the mail today.

We had so many to send because so many people have been helpful to us this year, and contact with them has never seemed more important. The best part of Christmas from where I sit is having an excuse to keep in touch.

Let me be not the first to decry the over-commercialization of the holiday, and urge a return to the roots of the occasion and using it for connecting with loved ones and friends and celebrating what we have.

Not many things make me feel colder than reading in the paper about homeless people who had to sit in chairs last night and try to sleep since beds were generally full at shelters in the area as temperatures plummeted. Seems like that's the kind of story that could ignite a lot of giving and bring more warmth to the holiday.