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In spite of any good news you may have heard about increased production in the manufacturing sector, I am here to report that there appears to be a serious shortage of candy canes this year. I went to five stores, and each time I struck out. I found odd variations of candy canes in nasty non-traditional flavors. I found the extra large and the tiny versions, and I even found Sponge Bob variations; but the ordinary ones, the plain red and white ones that are about four inches long, were nowhere to be found this evening.

I can't figure out why there was such a run on them unless maybe terrorists decided on a last minute change of plans since they were forbidden to take fruitcake bricks on their flights. Perhaps they decided to smuggle candy canes on instead thinking they could suck them down to needle sharp points for use as weapons.

I was just about to give up when I looked one more place, and finally found one lonely box sitting off to the side, the only one of it's kind left in the last store I went to, so now we are finished.

We successfully went from the stress of having no gifts at all, to the much more relaxed state of being completely done with the shopping. All in one day! And now that we have switched over to the Secret Santa plan we only have to buy for the two adults we draw, and for the two grand daughters. We used to have to buy gifts for 12 -14 people. I don't know why we resisted doing this for so many years, but as the family has grown it's just more sensible. It makes a big difference, saves time, and greatly relieves a lot of stress, both financial and emotional. Having a cooperative partner certainly helped things go smoothly, too.

Because I'm the Mom, I still can't help having a little something extra for all my kids anyhow. And that can be something simple which I make, or even something which I find at a house sale or thrift store that I think someone might like. Everyone enjoys their "bonus gifts" or "thrift gifts."

I did wait a little too long this year though because one gift I did have to order, even at this late date, since it's apparently only available through mail order. It's not so bad though because the girls get so much stuff from all the various relatives that one more thing would just get lost in the piles. this way it'll be a nice surprise for them during school vacation.

I'm ready to wrap tomorrow and to get things together for the appetizer and desert I have to bring on Christmas Eve, but that's all there is really.

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