1st of many thoughts on the holidays

Memories become tattoos on my heart: a permanent, never-ending reminder of times past. It's funny how much they hurt, but feel good at the same time. I guess it's like what everyone tells me about real tattoos. They say "when you get ink done, it hurts a lot, but it's a good hurt after a while". Yeah, memories can become a good hurt after a while.
Bah Hum Bug for the Holidays. A time to go out and spend more money in one month than you would typically spend in an entire year. A time to see all the people you really don't care to see but are obligated to. A time to pretend you really want to be somewhere when you would much rather jam hot pokers in your eyes (the pain from the pokers would probably feel better than having to force yourself to smile and having to listen to stories all night long). BLAH! Whatever happened to the joys of the holidays?! I wish I had that back, but I don't. I will be just as happy when the January 1st rolls around and the crummy 2004 year will have ended. Oh yes, just another blob of ink on my beating heart.