BUCKING THE SYSTEM: CHRISTMAS SEASON BRINGS A LOT TO SMILE ABOUT

Have you ever noticed that people seem to smile more just after Thanksgiving? In between the sale fights and the mad scramble for the last piece of sweet potato pie, there seems to be a lot of grinning going on.

Some folks are smiling because of the presents they know will arrive in just a few shopping weeks, while others are anticipating the presents they'll be giving.

Either way, the thoughts of Christmas makes people happy.

The women in my family take their preparations for the holiday seriously. Mom and I smile every year as we start looking for our Christmas CDs, then we smile as we plot the best ways to cajole our disgruntled menfolk into bringing the decorations out of the attic. We smile as we hang the indoor decorations, and our smiles broaden as we watch the men find ways to put off decorating the exteriors of our houses until they are forced out into bitterly cold temperatures to save their pride.

I have plenty to smile about this year, thanks in large part to two walking, talking sons who have Christmas on their minds. Like me, my boys enjoy everything about this season, from the good food to the vibrant colors to the wonderful Christmas smell that's difficult to describe but instantly recognizable.

While my kids get their love of Christmas from me, they obviously get their communication skills from their father. Patrick always tells me exactly what he wants for Christmas, something that I both appreciate and abhor.

How can you be genuinely excited Christmas morning when you already know what you'll be receiving?

The kids obviously don't understand this concept either, as evidenced in their willingness to point at every toy commercial and newspaper flyer and scream "I want that! I want that! I want that!" For gifts that are especially desirable, the phrase changes slightly.

"I really want that!"

I like to think I'm a little more subtle about supplying gift-giving ideas. I like to name four or five items and hope that somebody picks up on one of them. Of course, I'm easy to please in general because I like receiving presents no matter what they are.

Hmmm, I sure would like a computer scanner with copying capabilities. Hey, where'd that come from? (Note to Patrick, that hint was not for you.)

Probably the best thing about Christmas is not the presents, though, it's the sharing of happy times with family members. Memories of Christmas past tend to be shared more often at this of time of year, and for my family, that's a wonderful experience.

And then there is the music. This is where Mom and I really show our enthusiasm for the season. I think Mom has every Gladys Knight and the Pips Do Christmas album that was ever recorded. And my collection, while more varied, is becoming just as large.

Not that everyone shares our enthusiasm for the music. Mom has these lighted bells on her Christmas tree that flicker in tune to a VERY LOUD medley of carols. This year, they refused to work, probably due to a little sabotage in the attic area by the folks who take down and put up the decorations each year.

And my Christmas CDs keep disappearing. Have no fear, though, because I know most of the carols by heart. I've also begun teaching them to my children, who are demonstrating good musical ears and better memories, much to my husband's horror.

This is a wonderful time of year, and I'm gearing up for a wonderful Christmas season. Although I am planning on giving decent presents and listening to an awful lot of Christmas music, I must confess most of my joy is coming from the anticipation of being around the ones I love.

I can't think of a better reason to smile than that.