Salmo.....You know when I think about it seriously, I can only remember growing up with a large Norwegian family and being surrounded by relatives on holidays and especially Christmas. We usually got one gift which we really appreciated. In fact, I have an old deer skin drum my dad had made by an indian tribe when I was 5...I watched an old family movie of that Christmas so long ago just the other day. And not only that but that very drum hangs right here on my wall today.

Nowadays my kids are not surrounded by those simple and kind hearted Norwegians as they are all dead. They would never sit still for only one present. But they still make things with their own hands for dad because they know those are the things I cherish. Why are we at each other's throats so much about who offends whom with their beliefs? Why are so many embarassed to say they believe in this or that opting out instead to get along and call Christmas the winter holiday or some such boring nonsense. Christmas and Thanksgiving are times to say thanks for all we have and thanks for all of the loving family members and friends we surround ourselves with. I have never given one thought to those holidays being some sort of political cause.