A Happy Decemberist

Once again, December has snuck up on us. It is already the 6th and Christmas is under 20 days away. I predict that, as usual, the holiday will come and go and we will be left wondering where it went or how it went by so fast...
This weekend, just one week after Thanksgiving, I began doing, preparing and partaking in a number of winter/holiday activities. I began my shopping already. I put some Christmas lights up at home. and I went to two holiday parties. I begin working at Uncle Jer's this coming weekend. This will be my 8th (or 9th) Christmas that I work there. It is now a tradition for me to be part of that family every December. It is fun for me to see people in the spirit, feeling generous, thinking of others. I also enjoy catching up with the friends I have in the store, who work there and shop there.
On Saturday, after having lunch at Costa Alegre with Oscar, Jerry, Moises and Serene, we decided to walk down to the Echo Park Christmas Parade. We had so much fun being loud and obnoxious, dancing and posing with the cheerleaders and flirting with the firefighters and Aztec dancers who were parading. I have lived in Echo Park for 10 years now and I have never attended one of the neighborhood parades. I have to say, it was also great to see all the "latins" and Mexican folks in the neighborhood out in the streets. It was like taking back Echo Park! You know what I mean...