Where are you Christmas? Oh, hello there you are!

It's December 23rd, everyone is out with self-prescribed mad driving to cure the cabin fever. I someone who is stuck, they have three people out of their cars pushing the vehicle out of the ice-mess. Wow, how nice there are a few people in this country who still take a moment out of their busy schedule to help out a stranger. Then, I see it again down the road...and again, and again. Then, it's me stuck this time and sure enough, people pile out of the cars behind me to get my little PT Cruiser out of a slush-trap. I start to realize...this isn't a few people, this is my entire town. Now, don't get upset if you grew up in a wonderful town on the east coast or swear by your midwest upbringing. But, people on the west coast are nicer, more friendly, and all around cooler. Period.
Next day:
So, I'm running late to Christmas Eve Mass, and sure enough there is a woman sitting in her car in the middle of my route. I beep out a little curious honk, you know the one that says are you in trouble or just daydreaming? She leans out, shrugs her shoulders and looks very confused as to what she can do. So, I get out and try my best to get her unstuck (fully clad in my new dress, mind you). She was able to move out of the way and we both ended up backing out of the street and taking a detour. By the time I got to church, I was twenty minutes late and counting. Combine that with the complete lack of parking within a good mile and I decide that God can forgive me. On my way home, I pass my favorite restaurant here, Gino's Seafood & Steak. Charlie and I like to go there when we have a little extra money. Then, I turn around. Who says that I can't have a good Christmas Eve dinner just because I am alone? So, I stroll up to the hostess counter and say "Hi, just one, just me!" And she beams a great smile and says, want to come sit with me?" Well, sure. Turns out she was the bartender and I sat at the bar for a good hour eating chicken cannelloni, rustic bread with oil/vinegar, a garden salad and currant/cinnamon bread pudding a la mode. It was heavenly. My company was very lovely, small talk and commenting back and forth on the local news we were watching. By the time I got home, I had learned that Chai was also invited to Christmas at a friends tomorrow, so I have her a haircut for the first time, a bath and made her try on her elf costume. The rest of my evening has consisted of a heartwarming call from Charlie, lots of Christmas music, decorating cutout cookies and tracking Santa on Google Earth! I think I will go make some hot cocoa and get some rest, let some sugar plums do a number in my head....
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night. Remember to carry the holiday spirit with you throughout the year and never hesitate to share it with a stranger...