Time for another blog ... and by happy coincidence, here comes Christmas. About which, more in a moment.

First, as always, I want to acknowledge and thank those of you who have gone to the time and trouble to read my musings -- and respond.

Thanks, Debbie and the several Marys. Glad you liked the Geico commercial, Judith. It's astonishing how many people have seen it, and commented on it. I'm very glad you like my book, Gina. Maybe we'll meet in Nantucket.

Now to the subject of Christmas, which is, hands down, my favorite day of the year. It has been since I was a kid. As I write in Inside Inside: