Happy New Year!

Well, it is Christmas Eve as I pen this Hello, Monticello. One of my yearly traditions is to go to a store or two on this day, not to shop necessarily, just to observe the customers and the employees.

Funny how many people finally get the Spirit on this day and equally funny is why they are there. Did they just suddenly realize it is Christmas Eve? Time to buy, your shopping days are over.

Several men entered the first store looking flustered. Were they there to pick up gifts for their wife, kids, mother-in-law? They looked like lost little puppies. Help me their faces cried. One man was an exception. As he got to the toy aisle, he rubbed his hands together, got a grin on his face and said out loud, “There it is” as if he had made a brilliant discovery.

On one aisle a man and woman had a couple of stuffed animals in their arms and were trying to find gift bags big enough. None fit. I so wanted to offer my expertise, but didn’t. Hey, folks, just buy the biggest ones you can find, put the stuffed animals in them and stuff in a bunch of colored paper. Voila!

Between the onslaught of customers, employees were busy putting out Valentine Day gifts. Ah, another gift giving day. All the cashiers were happy and always told me, “You have a Merry Christmas”.

Soon it will be all over. The Christmas tree will look very sad. No one remembers to turn on your lights. All the gift bags will be gone. One bright spot remains of this year, New Years Eve.

So on that note, Happy New Year to all