Happy Birthday Mom, and thanks for the Christmas gifts.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) is the first full day of winter and every December 22 I think of my Mom, who was born on this day in 1916. Yes, my Mom would be 93 today if she were still alive.

My Mom was quite the story teller. As a woman who ran a foster home, she needed to have stories at the ready for every occasion.

When I was around twelve years old, we had a Christmas where the house was literally full of kids.

I had abandoned the whole Santa thing as early as first grade, but there were a couple staying with us who still counted on him.

That Christmas Eve we had a lot of snow, but at 6 PM Mom and Dad herded the half dozen staying with us the half block down East 6th Avenue to St. Thomas Church for the Christmas vigil mass.

I was an altar boy then, and I remember being on the altar, looking out at my parents and the unruly mob of orphans seated on the pew between them and smiling at them.

Today's blog is not about going to church on that Christmas Eve, it is about the story my Mom told the three kids under the age of seven to get them to go to sleep later that night. They had doubts that Santa would find them. They even argued that one of them should stay up to keep watch, and make sure he found them. So My Mom took a seat on one of the beds and called all of them over to it. Then she told them what she said was one of her tales from her own childhood.

The story was about how Santa got back to the North Pole just before dawn, and realized he had missed a stop at an orphanage. Despite being what my Mom described as "Bone Tired", he went into his shop, gathered up some toys, and headed back out. He delivered the toys as the sun was breaking the horizon, and the children in the orphanage rose just in time to wave to him as his sleigh lifted from the building's roof.

She told this story because one of the kids, I am not sure which one, asked her if Santa would be able to find him. He was worried because he had moved around so much and lived in so many different homes. This put doubt in the mind of a couple of the little girls, so my Mom decided to put that doubt at ease.

My Mom's point in telling that story was to reassure him and the other foster kids who were only staying with us on a temporary basis. She told them that Santa would always find them, no matter where they were.

In retrospect, I see it as the extraordinary act of kindness that it was. Every child in our home got a gift that Christmas, as they did every Christmas.

I feel very fortunate that I learned at a very early age that at Christmas time we don't always get the gift we want, but somehow we always end up with the gift we need.

Sometimes whether we want it or not.

Bow Down, Bow Down, Before the power of Santa! And the Perfect Christmas gift? A bulk family casket package from Sam's club!

I love Christmas. At Chrismas time, there are people who act like assholes, and then immediately apologize!

I have noticed in recent days that many of them blog!

Because we all know, Santa is watching! and Reading Blogs. God knows he has nothing else to do.

Today's topic is how many American consumers have become victims of what I refer to as the the real Jolly Boots of doom, OUR CHRISTMAS CREDIT CARD DEBT.

Yep, the debts many Americans take on in December to feel good about themselves for about twelve minutes on Christmas day. Talk about having some body's boot on your neck? Well there it is. You buy your 8 year old nephew Timmy the Toy train set that was on his Christmas wish list his parents sent out to all 800 other family members, and your stomach turns as he picks up the box, takes a bite out of it, and sets it aside. He spends the day playing with the cardboard box his dad's new 54 inch TV came in, which is bigger than your apartment or house, and you sit in the corner crying. It wouldn't be so bad, but after buying your spouse/significant other a gift worth several grand, they have just informed you that they still aren't interested in sex right now or they appreciate the gift but think it best they move in a different direction.

I am lucky I have never been there, but God knows I have witnessed it. The Power of Santa is all consuming, if you don't realize how overpowering it can become. My wife will tell you, I have a very hard time getting money out of my pocket to spend it.

I don't bow down to the power of Santa, but I do double over in laughter at those of you who can't escape it. That's why I love Christmas. You always make me laugh. So Consider this a big thank you.

And if you really want to crack me up this year, take Grandma or Grandpa to Walmart online to pick out their casket or memorial earn. It's never too early to save a few bucks! I can't wait until Sam's Club starts selling the family pack in Bulk! Always low prices starting at 39.96. can you imagine if they had a display in the store?

Nothing say "Merry Christmas, I love you!" like a bulk casket purchase for the whole family.

Bow down before the power of Santa, and be happy he never tried to deliver caskets in his sleigh. That is one thing you wouldn't want to see under the old Christmas tree!