Been. Gone.

I'm not at all convinced about the holiday season.

We spend so much time, so much energy... and so much money... building up to but one fleeting moment of a single day.

And by we, of course, I mean those of us who celebrate "Christmas" in some form. As Richard Dawkins so brilliantly observed, even if we are atheists, we absorb many of the cultural religious traditions of the society we were brought up in. By accident of birth, I happen to have been brought up in a predominately Christian society. Which makes me a cultural Christian, despite being an atheist.

And so, with the opening of presents and the eating of far too much food, the event has gone. It has been good, yet another very enjoyable Christmas... but still, why have we allowed ourselves to hype up something for so long that lasts such a very short time. It's hard to pinpoint the exact moment "Christmas" ends, but to me it is when you get sent out to wash the dishes after the eating is over.

For all the time and effort that we go to, Christmas could at least have the decency of being one week long. Perhaps a new present every day. Lots of partying and celebration. Who cares about the economy! It would probably all be made up for in spending on booze anyway.

So now it's all over for another year it does make me a little sad. Yet another memory created. At least the family is still all together, still all looking out for each other. I should cherish these moments, because they don't last forever.

Another thing that probably won't last forever is my nephew's new drum kit. Especially when I get hold of it later. Oh yes.