Okay, here comes the traditional warm fuzzies of the season, primarily aimed at those who celebrate Christmas whether in the Christian sense or any other sense.

What's your favorite Christmas memory? (Go ahead and get all sappy. It's Christmas!)

Mine was when I was about five. My oldest brother swore he was going to wait up until he heard Santa Claus in the front room, then go out and get a look at him. I agreed with my other brother that we should all wait up. We waited in our rooms with the doors just slightly ajar. At some point in the middle of the night, we heard shuffling around in the house. Just as we were about to put our daring plan into action, a bag full of toys spilled in the hallway! Santa used some very unChristmassy-like words, in fact they were words we often heard my father use when something aggravating had happened, and then some shadowy form started gathering up the toys.

We pussed out. One of my brothers said "Santa's here! Get back to bed or he'll take away all the toys!" No way in hell were we going to risk that! Some things you just don't bet a Spirograph against! Of course, my parents had these smug grins the following morning, knowing that they had almost gotten caught. I'll never forget that one!

We would always go to our aunt's house for Christmas Eve. And when we came back home, we were allowed to open a single present before bed-time.

One year, I chose a present way at the back of the tree...

Turns out it was from Santa...
He must have come early that year.