People who celebrate Christmas: Are you ever totally ready for Christmas without being totally frazzled?

Every year, my friends and I that celebrate Christmas are never ready. Those who work, those who don’t work, it’s all never done until the last minute, and even then, sometimes it’s not done till after.

For me, friends I’m not seeing until after Christmas I wait to buy for, because I figure there’s enough to do without worrying about people I am not seeing until January. Every year, I am shopping at night, wrapping presents last minute, writing out cards last minute, decorating in steps, not usually all at once, because there’s just not enough time.

I yearn for the perfect Christmas that you see in magazines – one where the cards are written in a leisurely manner, by the fireside, with a cup of cocoa nearby. Decorating is done on a free afternoon, presents are wrapped and placed under the tree weeks ahead of time to look at (except those from Santa!).

Everyone I know, when we ask each other “are you ready for Christmas?” we all say “no.” Is this you, too?