Flutterby™! : Christmas gifts

Despite my whining about the amount I've spent on donations to worthy causes, I've done a little more shopping, including one moderately big extravagant gift to myself (which, not coincidentally, makes a gift of what it replaces). But I got to thinking about some of the smiles I've seen this holiday season, and I want to note that in all of our neighborhoods, no matter how poor or rich, there are kids starved for adult attention and parents who are run ragged. If you can let a toddler play with a toy and not be on them saying "don't break it", that's a gift. If you can help a kid build something, just a little guidance with the soldering iron or the glue, that's a gift. Heck, if you can give patient counseling on homework, that's a gift too.

This works for adults, too. Guaranteed there's someone one or two friends removed from you who could use a little encouragement in some skill you've got, a little coaching on some project, even just a fresh perspective. Spending money's fine, spending time makes the community that much cooler.