tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871576383923273228.post1752891459940412664..comments2009-01-01T09:35:41.192-05:00Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02108799473999610302noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871576383923273228.post-85292645804400827042009-01-01T09:35:00.000-05:002009-01-01T09:35:00.000-05:00Thank you for your comment, Laura! I agree! :)Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02108799473999610302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871576383923273228.post-39822851884433047702008-12-28T21:58:00.000-05:002008-12-28T21:58:00.000-05:00I like this post! I decided to do the holidays this year on my own terms, and not feel pressured into doing anything I didn't want to do. The decorating was very minimalist, I didn't do Christmas cards, and only four people got gifts (my mom and my brother's kids--who are the only little ones in my extended-immediate family). Plus, no holiday travel and no holiday baking.<BR/><BR/>But the point wasn't that I wanted to be a grinch. The point was just that I didn't want to be stressed! And because I was so relaxed, I really did enjoy the events that I did participate in: I went to a great performance of /Messiah/, one of the holiday parties at work, church services, and holiday dinners with close friends. It was such a great holiday!<BR/><BR/>I realize that because I'm single and have no children, I have a lot more flexibility than most people in choosing how to celebrate the season. I just wanted to share my experience of downsizing the holiday.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17348142145385946765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871576383923273228.post-13093486192387812682008-12-10T13:01:00.000-05:002008-12-10T13:01:00.000-05:00TOP, I thank you in turn for your graciousness. I understand from personal experience how disconcerting it can be to be faced with an unexpected torrent of disapproval from strangers. I would not assume that your sudden influx of attention represents an unknown long-standing retinue of silent readers, nor do I think that it will continue. Someone must have stumbled upon your site randomly and called attention to the issue. Some of the remarks may have been overly strident or heavy-handed, and that saddens me because you are clearly a person deserving of respect and encouragement. Good teachers who derive joy from teaching and give it right back again are precious resources. The point was expressed and that should be the end of it. I am very unhappy if the brief storm caused you undue upset. I hope that you have no further negative fallout from it all and that it simply blows over.<BR/>I cannot apologize for others but I can only once again thank you for your willingness to consider my remarks and also to wish you well.<BR/>Richard WadeRichard Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12503736808382028945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4871576383923273228.post-19031098618147556892008-12-09T17:45:00.000-05:002008-12-09T17:45:00.000-05:00Richard;<BR/>I just wanted to thank you for your thoughtful and respectful comment. While I have deleted the post to which it was attached, know that I have considered all you said and agree with you in many pieces. Because I assumed by blog was limited to a small group of friends, I was not careful to edit out several local references or fully explain things that someone in my circle of influence would already recognize. <BR/>(who knew I had a national following?!)<BR/>Nonetheless, I appreciated your stopping by, your comments, and have enjoyed checking out Mindblink as well. Happy Holidays to you as well, sir!<BR/>TOPTeach On Purposehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04076512352725759017noreply@blogger.com