This is the most wonderful time of the year. It has always been so since I was a little girl to me, and this is not for Christmas in itself, but because all my “events” are concentrated in this part of the year in a fabulous bacchanal which stretches from my birthday on December 3rd to Christmas, name-day on the 26th – as Mrs Tink’s name is actually Stefania – to go to New Years’ celebrations and the coming of the Befana on the 6th of January. This was still the most wonderful time of the year even when I realized that as I was growing older, rather than receiving a present for each singular celebration it had become customary to get 1 present for all of them together. A bigger one, I was said. A big scam I thought. This is still the most wonderful time of the year even when I look back to past Christmases and I realize that at least half of them have been unpleasant if not tragic. Yet, I never associate tragedy to Christmas, just I can’t. This is why I am determined to make this Christmas, any Christmas the most wonderful time of the year despite all the presents I have not received, bad thoughts and above all the hard times we have all been sharing for too long. I wish you all to have a fabulous time anyhow. Merry Christmas. Tink.
e-Tinkerbell 
Merry Christmas 🤶 Tinker bell 🔔 Hope you have a merry merry Christmas 🎄 W.
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Merry Christmas to you, Wjknight.
I look back over all my Christmases, and it makes me sad because all those wonderful times are gone forever. But the memories of all the happinesses remain. Happy Christmas to you!
You are right. Grown-up Christmases cannot be but a little bitter-sweet. But …let’s be Merry!Ciao!
Thank you, dearest Stefy. I wish you a Merry Christmas and belated birthday wishes. I have not so many memories of these days as I was born and lived in a Muslim country, but I have always loved this celebration because it reminds everybody of love, once in a year at least! Have a good time with your beloved ones and stay safe. 🤗💖🙏💖🤗😘🥰
Lovely words. Thank you Aladin!
Happy Christmas! And happy belated birthday too!
Thank you very much Leyla. The same to you and your family and….Totti! Do I remember well?
Thank you – you do, but we have lost Totti, and only Milo is left. 💕
You must believe me if I say that there was a little voice inside me saying: “don’t write it! don’t write it!”, as it was some time ago when I saw the picture of Totti on you blog and commented it. I am so sorry.
Don’t be sorry – I am glad you remembered him!
Merry Christmas
Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too.
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Wishing you a Christmas that’s merry and bright!💙💙💙
Thank you so much, dearest Luisa. Have a great time too.
🙏💝🙏💝🙏
Wishing you a fabulous Christmas holiday with all the trimmings! ❤
Thank you very much, my dear Carol.
Merry Christmas!
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Oh, this is a lovely tree. Thank you Cindy. Have a great Christmas!
Merry Christmas my darling friend XXX
Merry Christmas and belated Happy Birthday, Stefy. The last two years have been difficult for so many; I agree with you — it is difficult to paint the canvas of Christmas with negativity. Despite the challenges brought on by the Covid pandemic and all that ails the world, the Christmas season is a time to reflect on all the little miracles that occur all around us — many times unnoticed: random acts of generosity and kindness, even what we do here in this forum — to share ideas across time and space through the miracle of the internet. Time after time, you have shared with your readers thought-provoking insights from literature and your own life to illuminate humanity and the path forward. And this is the greatest obligation of the writer: to lift the heart and elevate his or her thinking. I am reminded of the immortal words of William Faulkner: “I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet’s, the writer’s, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet’s voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.” So thank you for this little miracle: sharing your compassion and wisdom over the years; in the darkness of the deadly pandemic, it is a glorious, shining beacon that is deeply appreciated. Cheers. Alex
Dear Alexander, your words always warm my heart. You have always be so suportive all these years. Thank you so much.
Cheers
Stefy
Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
Stefi wishes us a Merry Christmas
A little late, but Merry (belated) Christmas.
Hopefully, when you look back at this one, it won’t rank among the unpleasant ones.
But you were in time for name-day ;D
Thank you Emilio.
Yes, yes … I waited for your onomastico so I could bundle it all up into one greeting. (insert appropriate humorous hieroglyph symbol here)