Gee, I thought I was the only one. The older that Mrs. Grouch and I get, the more we simplify Christmas.

Probably a decade ago I started a tradition in our family of only exchanging home made gifts among the adults. Everybody gets home made frozen Dad-the-Bad chili from me. We still give gifts to the grand kids and great grand kids. The people with kids exchange kid names rather than buy something for all 19. Last year we had family from Seattle visiting so we put up a small tree but only used photos of family members for ornaments. Santa thoughtfully delivered their gifts to our house too. This year, with no little kids, we're displaying my mother-in-law's breakable crib set insted of a tree. We have a few exterior lights on timers, but no one is going to mistake our condo for a used car lot.

Our children all have another family which they'll celebrate with on Christmas itself. I'm sure we'd be welcome with any of them but we'll probably just have dinner with some childless adult friends. Our clan will assemble the week end afterward. We'll share a meal and enjoy each other's company.

I'm good with all of that. Frankly, it makes Christmas seem more special to me.