A holiday frenzy, or, afrenzy

That's me - all afrenzy. Every year I swear I'm going to be way ahead of the game. I'm going to be one of those people who mails out holiday cards the day after Thanksgiving, and doesn't even bother joining the throngs at the mall on Black Friday because all my gifts have already been purchased, wrapped and shipped.

Of course, it hasn't happened yet. And I'm guessing it's not going to happen any time soon.

To complicate the already insanely complicated holiday season, my son's birthday is on the 22nd of December. Whenever I mention that tidbit, people invariably say "Poor kid!" Poor kid? Trust me, if having a birthday close to Christmas is the biggest problem he faces in life, he'll have a pretty great life.

And anyway, the person who really suffers for cramming a birthday and Christmas into the same week is me. Once I emerge from my Thanksgiving hangover it hits me: Oh shit! I have to plan a birthday party. And I have to pick a date when his friends will still be in town, mostly. I have to send cupcakes to school before Christmas break. I have to balance the holiday crazies with the attention a kid really ought to get on his birthday. Inevitably, I overcompensate by trying to throw a party at the funnest (is that even a word?) venue I can think of. Don't even get me started on holiday travel.

It stresses me out every year. And yet...and yet I insist on putting it all off until the last minute. I know I ought to simplify. So this year I'm trying to make things just a little bit easier on all of us. Out-of-state relatives will all get gifts purchased online - less wrapping for me, no standing in line at the post office. Holiday cards are coming from Costco this year, and the photo is not what I'd call stellar but it's real. The tree, on the other hand, is not real, but I won't be sweeping up pine needles all month. And my poor put-upon December birthday boy will be having a good old fashioned sleepover.

Ahhh. I'm relaxing already. I might just make it to 2008 after all.