But then it wont just end with Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, EVERYONE would then be entitled to have a display. The Pagan community woudnt push it because they keep a low profile anyway, but everyone else would demand a display for their particular religious bent. It would become unreasonable.

Calling anyone out by name? Because I mentioned that Christmas was an adopted Pagan holiday? That is based in historical fact sir. There is no need to take offense.

when you finally see Andy give him one tender kiss on the cheek and tell him it's from me

Apparently, there must be some kind of requisite criteria needed to create a thread that will go a full 50 pages (or more). What's the trick?

oh chill.. you will be FINE!!!
you just gotta remember to BREATHE!!! and everything will beok!

how about now?? is he here yet?!?!
is he???

cuz that would be NEAT!!

ok I'm comin in late here .. 11 hours til??????????????????????????????????

When my daughter was about 6 years old, she asked me, "Mommy, if all the presents are made at the North Pole, and Santa is supposed to bring them to us, why do we have to go shopping for presents?"

Now before I get bashed for the answer I gave her, let me first explain that I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness (until I was 17) and we didn't celebrate Christmas and there definitely was no such thing as Santa Clause. I was picked on big time as a child because of it, and trust me, it was not a fun time for me having to defend myself because of it.

So in answer to my daughter's question, I told her that Santa is a very busy man with lots of presents to give out and sometimes he needs a little help. So he asks the parents and Aunts and Uncles and any family and friends to help out so that everyone can get a present. I also told her that some people can't afford to get that much, but that everyone should appreciate whatever it is that was given to them. This answer seem to satisfy her, and she even made the comment "So if I don't get everything I asked for, it's not because I was bad, it's just because you didn't have enough money." I told her that was exactly right! I figured she was better off hearing that explanation then me just saying there was no such thing as Santa Clause and that me and her family buy all the presents. I didn't want her to have to go through the torment that I went through as a kid.

Since then, she has told everyone that explanation and not only has no one ridiculed her for it, but the kids respond with something like "So, that's how he does it" and the parents seem to like the explanation as well.

So I guess my question to everyone is do you tell your child/children if there really is a Santa Clause or not? Or how would you respond to the question my daughter asked? Do you have your own belief system in what Christmas and Santa Claus is all about?

Sir Walter Scott quotes

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive”

I think I'll hijack this thread to use for taking up donations for the socially enept and emotionally challenged among us...

I'll cough up the first $5

The thread seems valid enough to me. She asked a simple,sincere question relating to all of us who genuinly compare our experiences to our realities and our realities to our hopes.

he does this with all his food. And he absolutely loves his chereos (he'll throw a fit if he doesnt get them).

I do know I am afraid of being alone. I don't want to be alone.

Most believe there is a perfect person for them out there in the world. Some call these people soul mates.

However.....
Most people marry people that live near them. People they work with or go to school with...etc. (so says a website on marriage statistics). Look at how many people marry their H.S. sweethearts. I bet most of these people would say their spouse is their true love or soul mate.

So it seems most people's true love or soul mate just happens to live nearby. Really?

Seems to me that we create love, not find it. We find someone who is closest to what we want and then we find things to love about them. We create and build love.

If we really only feel in love with that one perfect person we would have a heck of a time finding that person in this big world. Then they might be married to THEIR soul mate.

What do you think? Are you searching for your one and only soul mate or are you searching for just a good person that you will then create love with?