December 23rd.
Two days before Christmas.
Which is generous when you consider Christmas Eve.
One and a half days to get things done.

And in three days it will be over.
If you haven’t started enjoying the season, please do so now.
NOW.

Seriously, if it’s not bought, baked, decorated, shipped, wrapped, written, frosted, etc, maybe it wasn’t meant to be.
This year.
There’s always next year.

368 days until Christmas 2020.
Unless you’re old, then it’s like, I dunno, three weeks away.
*sigh*

My gift to you is appreciation.
I appreciate everything you have done. Really! You’ve been so busy! You are awesome!
And as a bonus, you know, kind of like when you order a gift and get a second free–
I give you consent to be done. The last thing you did is the last to be done.
Really! You did great! You are awesome!

But wait–THERE’S MORE!
Consider me your excuse.
Anybody says boo to you about what you didn’t finish or forgot or left out, you tell ’em Mary says it’s okay.

Mary says I don’t have to bake any more cookies.
Mary says the daily newspaper is perfect for wrapping.
Mary says minimalism makes for a contemporary holiday decor.
Mary says I don’t have to go to that party and socialize with those people.
Mary says “stress” was NOT on my list to Santa–
Mary says it’s my celebration, too!

And when they inevitably ask, “Mary who?”
You tell ’em–
MARY CHRISTMAS!

Then, with a shrug and a smile, you go on to have a wonderful, relaxed, joyful rest of the season. You deserve it. You are awesome.