Life is such a sweet insanity.

With Christmas official a week away, and the holidays in full swing, one can't help feel the warm, fuzzy feeling in the air. The glow of children's cheeks as they sing Christmas carols. The sweet smell of egg nog and brandy, filling the glasses of the loved ones surrounding you. The warmth of the fire, crackling happily in the fireplace, as the family gathers and shares memories of holidays gone by.

That's the way the holidays should be. And I must say that we're getting there.

Of course the holidays are not complete without a madcap experience at several malls. Earl and I hit two malls in Albany yesterday to finish up the shopping. I've adopted a new activity to liven up the fun. If a person is chattering away on their cell phone and completely oblivious to the people and activity around them, I trip them up. Yeah, I can be an asshat.

There was a customer ahead of us at Boscov's yesterday that gave one a new purpose for living. She seemed like she's enjoyed a good life. She was alone, catching up on her holiday shopping and enjoying the local Brownies troop singing Christmas carols. She chatted merrily with other customers. She is 100 years old. She wrote a check, and when she presented her driver's license for identification, the cashier noticed that she had aged a century. "Yeah, I know, I'm 100." She then quipped, "I just had my driver's license renewed - it's good until 2011." She'll probably be around to renew it again!

Tonight was the annual Christmas party for my Dad's side of the family. Not as many people attended this year, for various reasons, but it's nice to experience the holiday joy with others.

As long as they stay off their cell phones.