memphisLimelight

Well, it's official.  The holidays are upon us.  You've probably already gained some weight, and now Christmas is only about three weeks away.  When it comes to decorating and planning the holiday season, there are some great tips in this month's Downtowner magazine.  I learned a lot from the organizational expert I interviewed for the article that starts on page 38.

It's a great time of year.  The holiday parade on Friday was great, and it really gave me that warm and fuzzy feeling.  However, I don't feel that this is the time of year that the rest of the year is preparation for.  But it is a good time to appreciate what you have.

In my little South Main neighborhood, every day is a holiday.  We're always doing something to make any given day special.  We're always decorating building facades or parking meters with artsy embellishments, and you never know when an impromptu dinner party might break out.  I'm constantly surprised at how fortunate I am to be part of such a community.  And it works because we have the best people I've ever known.

South Main and Downtown are full of friendly, caring people.  My group of friends has recently expanded, and though we may not have a lot of time behind us, my new friends are real.  There's no doubt that they are genuinely kind people who all seem to be good at befriending other good people.

Our circle is complete with characters who may have been outcasts in high school, but in our little world, everyone is free to be one of the cool kids.  South Bluffs must require personality tests of potential residents.  And the quaint retro warehouses of South Main must attract truly special people with big hearts.  Everyone should be so lucky.

Every day of the year is already special when you're part of a community that celebrates life every chance it gets.  The hope of snow and some twinkling lights are just all the more reason.