I don't know whether any of you can empathize, friends, but the holidays have always brought with them a tinge of melancholy and disappointment for me.  I haven't quite put my finger on why, but I wonder whether it might have to do with the fact that all the commercial, media and societal hype leading up to and about Christmas usually turns out to be a bit anticlimactic in reality.  Hollywood and television specials tends to portray the holidays as a marvelous, cheerful time marked by huge family gatherings (where everyone proudly dons tacky Christmas sweaters), joyous reunions, magical … [Read more...]