Op-Ed: Time To Eat, Drink and Be Merry

It's that time of year again! John is dreaming of Aunt Becky's home made butter tarts, while his sister is envisioning a stocking hung over the mantel with her name on it. Uncle Marty has just bottled the last batch of homemade wine.

Eat This is the time of year for those who celebrate the Christmas Season. For the shop owners who don't, they have been preparing for months to have the right product for their customers. Imported breads, fine wines, cheese platters and decorated baked goods are just a few items that don the isles. The added stresses of 2008 make it somewhat difficult to feel like it's okay to indulge. Financial constraints, broken relationships and tragedy can often rob us of the joy we so desperately want . This year it will be a toss up for many. Will I be the comforter or am I going to need comforting? Perhaps a bit of both? It's the little things that are done from the heart that get the most mileage. Having a tray of 'goodies' on hand for family and visitors can do more than satisfy a craving; it can also satisfy a heart. For many, the traditional turkey dinner is still seen as a must. It wouldn't seem like Christmas without it! Others are more adventurous and experimental. Perhaps a prime rib roast with yorkshire pudding or a couple of chickens spitting on the barbecue would also be a delight. For those who prefer not to cook, ordering in Chinese is another option if the budget may permit such extravagance. Some of the restaurants and hotels have a wonderful Christmas dinner or buffet for those who would like to go out. Can we experience more with less? Of coarse, but who really wants to. Perhaps I'll skip making New York Slice this year. It's time consuming and expensive. I could buy a slab. It's cheaper and it almost tastes as good as mine. Would anyone really notice or mind? Would I really care if they did? We all need to escape from life's stresses. What better way to do that than sharing a holiday meal with friends and family who are on the same page as you. If you have any scrooges, grim reapers, or just plain ornery joy robbers in your midst, it's okay to let them know your not going to let them ruin it for everybody else, including yourself. Enjoy! Drink This time of year the liquor stores are like Wal-mart, very busy. When you take a look around you see some people are frustrated, others are just in a hurry and in the midst of it all you'll always see someone that is calm,smiling, seemingly oblivious. The liquor stores have festive cheer gift boxed for the season. They make a wonderful gift as people don't usually buy it for themselves. Uncle Joe is loaded with money, so we're told. He usually stops by every Christmas Eve and drinks all the scotch. Maybe this year we'll go out and drive around looking at the Christmas lights. When we sneak back home we'll drink the scotch. After all, isn't charity suppose to begin at home? On the other hand, a glass or two of wine would be more relaxing once the kiddo's are asleep which is usually about three hours after you've put them to bed. Their excited and we have no one to blame but ourselves for getting them all fired up. It's easy to stick to the liquor budget this year. All we have to do is not invite any miserable hard core drinkers who usually tend to get out of hand anyway. Let them go somewhere else for a change, it's time for other people to share the load. Making both an alcoholic and non alcoholic punch is not only festive but it can also stretch the budget. Beer drinkers are great. They tend to bring a case of beer with them, just in case you didn't make it to the vendor. A little hot toddy here and there can really warm you up, especially if you live where I do, just outside Santa's igloo where the temperature lately has dipped to -45C with the windchill. Fine wine, great food, people who love and appreciate each other, what more could one ask for? It's okay to let loose a little and forget about work, the failing economy, the plight of the auto industry, the middle east conflict, and all the other problems around the world, even if only for a day or a few hours. No worries. It'll still be waiting for you when it's time to get back to reality. And Be Merry This year it is a shoppers paradise! There's no need to go hunting for deals. They'll jump out at you! There everywhere! Planning and anticipating Christmas can give you a real lift. The glow of the Christmas lights and decorated trees along with the decorations is an absolute treasure and distraction from everyday life. Take a load off. Crank some tunes, make some noise, play a board game or guitar hero. Make it a mission to have some fun this year. If you prefer peace and quiet as we all do at times, make sure you give some to yourself as a gift . Watch an old time movie or Christmas special. Call up an old friend, go shopping with someone that will share or give you joy. When Christmas dinner rolls around and you want to enjoy and appreciate every morsel, remember it takes the brain several minutes to let you know your full. Case out ahead of time where you might want to stretch out until dinner has digested. This time of year we think about many things. We can choose to be a joy giver or a joy robber. Sometimes we take alot for granted or even feel helpless when we see the grim circumstances facing other people this time of year. This year for those who do celebrate Christmas in some fashion I'd like to wish you a Very Happy Merry One! Eat, Drink and Be Merry. You'll be glad that you did.