My real Secret Santa

In my idealistic opinion the closest any gift can come to capturing the meaning of the Christmas season will be a gift given; to someone who doesn't know you, someone who can't repay you, it will be given to someone in need, and will cost one something (or any combination of those options).

This is the gift I get excited about! I don't know who I will give it to and I don't know when it will happen. It maybe well before or after Christmas but I listen & watch for opportunities or people who are in need of help. The last few years I have ended up helping out single parents with kids but I don't have any specific preference. One year a guy attempting to get back home to visit his family over the holidays was given a bus ticket, another year a stranded motorist was taken to a gas station and had his gas bought for him. The important thing for me is seeing the opportunity and taking advantage of it when it appears, regardless of how significant or insignificant it appears to be. It may mean I'm late to an event, or don't use the extra shopping money on myself then that is the price I pay.

I don't write all this to brag as there is a point to this post. This year I was fortunate to hear about someone in need and be able to get some information about them and help them. It was something I was looking forward to and at the same time one of the few things that really worked out for me this time of year. There were many goals I wanted to accomplish but didn't do this holiday season. I wanted to spend more time shopping, finish a few books I had started reading months ago, decorate a Christmas tree I bought (it is now New Years and I still haven't done it), I wanted to visit more friends who were in town, I was supposed to have a couple blind dates (no ones fault...things didn't work out due to time/schedule conflicts & being snowed in) and I was attempting to get out of doing a paper for one of my classes but it would have hurt my grade too much so I'm turning it in late (and I haven't done much research for it). December 2006 will go down in history as the month that could have held many bright, fun, eventful, productive, activities but DID NOT.

Despite all my frustrated plans I take comfort & joy in knowing I was able to truly help someone in need. It is weird to know even though the things I place value in or are important to me are out of my control and frustrated I can still choose to help someone. It is much more meaningful because it reminds me of what is truly valuable this season.

(Although a couple dates, a decorated Christmas tree, and being able to dodge a homework assignements would have been great Christmas gifts!)