this may be strange but i actually am doing all right this year. strange because my mother passed on december 9th. it was a quiet good death and she is where she has wanted to be, with my dad and sister. i buried my anger and disappointment with her and i feel more at peace than i have in years. all is not rosy, but neither is it pitch black. dh and i exchanged 1 gift each-- his is a to-be-made quilt (i gave him the fabric), and mine was a cashmere scarf. he has just recovered from pancreatic cancer and i feel truly grateful and blessed that he is here, with me, and doing well. i have my first grand-baby (olivia, aug. 3rd), and my middle son has a good job, with good pay, after being out of work for more than a year. my daughter is in love with a very nice man. so the blessings outweigh the pain. i wish you all a healthy happy new year and the best holiday season possible!