Well, it’s over for another year. Weeks of planning and preparation and money-spending gone in a 10-minute blur of flying bows and shredded wrapping paper. And hopefully, a lot of smiles and dreams-come-true for the kids.

Don’t get me wrong: I love Christmas. I love seeing the look on someones face when they open your gift and it’s the perfect gift. I love the anticipation and excitement and pure magic found in kids waiting for Santa. I love the Grinch and Charlie Brown and Heat Miser and so much of the beautiful music of the season.

But when it’s over, I want it really over. House-put-back-together-and-tree-gone over. No more Christmas light…and don’t get me started about the people that keep them lit until Easter. No more dumb commercials with BMW’s with big red bows on them. No more dogs barking to the Jingle Bells tune, no more Neil Diamond destroying The Chanukah Song – possibly the worst thing to assault my ears since William Shatner’s ill-conceived attempt at a singing career.

I hope you all got everything you wanted for Christmas. What was your perfect gift?