Yea! I guess, still... i like to give, this is the way i am!!! but i never
receive anything i want or need, maybe it's because i have everything.

But i agree, the Xmas spirit i far from what is use to be. Sad i guess.

I own 4 "toy store" in the Montreal area with a partner, it's been like that
for the past 15 years, so you can imagine that am quite "dead" on Xmas day...

But i see some happy family and kids in my stores, so there is still people
who have the "good old" holiday spirit, they look happy together. But sadly
they are not the majority, far from that... i closed my biggest store at
7:30PM yersterday (normaly 5pm), we talk with lonely customers (good
cutomers of ours) who were still wondering in the shopping center even after
it was close, we had a few beer and talk about life. I was late for a family
diner... i didn't care.

It piss me off sometime to be in this business, when i know that so many
people are lonely, poor an unhappy in this sad world we live in.

People are not eating in India, Africa... and am selling 2000$ Radio
controled helicopter to rich and impolite customer, it's even not for him
but for it's spoiled son, who will crash that chopper in a matter of minutes
on Xmas day.

Well, i won't change the world.
The only thing good we did is give 8000$ worth of toys to a local
organisation that feed and help poor family, i hope we help put a smile on a
few kids face... We didn't give money (i don't want to think that a "rat"
will put that money in it's pocket), we gave toy, am sure they will go to
those kids.

Cheers, Ben (buried in 8 feets of snow)
http://www.benplace.com/