The real meaning of Christmas is not something that can be wrapped in a box or put under a tree and it's certainly not pepper spraying someone in the middle of the night at WalMart for a video game.  

The real meaning is to spread peace and love and to remember the light in yourself that gives you hope and purpose to live your best life.  

The real meaning lies in spending time with friends and family and sharing the experience of life with each other.

The real meaning - a lucky group who knows - was spending any amount of time with our beloved Carolyn.  

Christmas at Carolyn's was a feast of every type of comfort food imaginable, a good game of hand and foot, and an open door to all who she knew and, truth be told, some she met at the grocery or the bank.   Carolyn was and will always be the quintessential Christmas spirit, spreading love, peace and joy whereever she went.

At the risk of sounding like an old fashioned, tragically unhip Scrooge, I encourage you to:

• Move beyond the trappings of the commercial Christmas and spend quality, carefree time with those you love.     
• Spread peace and love, not money and gifts
• Remember the light in yourself that gives you hope and purpose to live your best life

May you and yours enjoy the season and have a fabulous 2012!