[Marilyn]

Okay, what is the deal this year??? I have spoken with more people who just are not ready for Christmas this year. Many are like those who've posted on this thread. I have a customer with early elementary aged children who said they hadn't gotten around to putting up a tree yet, and probably just won't bother. Several other people in various stages of life have said the same thing.

I'm not in the mood this year either. Our daughters are getting older and so are we, so it's just not the same as it was when they were younger. If we want something we go get it. So it's harder to buy gifts. Our girls always have wants, but our oldest said we already do so much for them, they really don't expect us to do much for Christmas.

I don't understand overall, though why this year is so different from others in the past. It is the underlying political climate? The war in Iraq? Our dissatisfaction with our culture and how bad we all feel things are getting?

Tell you what, I challenge all of us to think of something really positive, and post on the positive forum. We have to get in a better mood!!!!