Here in the U.S. the entire economy and society would pretty-well collapse if it weren't for the automobile. When I lived in Germany (in the 1960's), the building where my apartment was located had stood when Napoleon was still a boy. It had stood when Frederick the Great ruled Germany, and when Bismarck became a Prince, and the streets were organized as streets were organized centuries before, namely around churches, around wells, etc.

Most of the older, larger cities and towns in the U.S. were "designed" similarly, but as they grew, and particularly as the automobile became commonplace ( when I lived in Germany, less than half the households owned automobiles there ) cities and towns were designed with the idea in mind that everyone had a car at their disposal. Long commuting distance was commonplace. The telephone and the automobile made long-distance-living a reality, and the demand for automobiles increased as a result. That's why we have streets that are wide enough to accommodate cars parked on both sides.

Unfortunately, or perhaps not, we have few cities with old cores as exist in Europe. We have wide streets to accommodate cars, and accompanying sets of attitudes that favor bicycles and pedestrians considerably less than Europeans have. When last I was in Germany, there were about as many bicycles used for commuting as there were cars, and that was in a fairly large city, mostly rebuilt after World-War-II. Not everyone had a telephone, and even fewer had cars. People could rely on public transportation.

In the U.S, very nearly everyone has at least one car, and at least one telephone, and nobody can rely on public transportation. It's not safe to use a bicycle to commute, and not as many people as would like to do so can walk to where they need to go. The U.S. has been built around mobility not common in other parts of the world. The resulting mindset of public officials simply ignores transportation needs beyond the occasional bus or light-rail project.

As a consequence, cars are everywhere, and, at this time of year, society's bent being toward a close-of-business on December 24th deadline, they're being driven by people whose attention isn't really on driving their cars. I hope, for your sake, and everyone else's, that it's not like that in Sweden. It's sheer Bedlam on the streets near shopping districts, and one takes one's life into one's own hands walking or driving anywhere near those areas.

That's why I do my holiday shopping online, aside from last minute shopping at the liquor store or the book store.

Unlike most folks, I don't have the 100KW holiday lighting display, and I only hang a holiday wreath on the door on or about December 23rd. I leave it up until January 7th, however. I don't handle the Christmas gift-giving as a deadline driven task, preferring instead to use the 12-day span, not only because there are significant bargains to be had after December 25th, but because I don't require a holiday to present someone with an item that they probably want, but don't need.

I try to visit all my neighbors over the holidays, bringing along something good to eat, and perhaps lifting a glass with those of them who drink alcohol, though I seldom do that on my own. A little eggnog has seldom hurt anyone.

Perhaps, despite my own disappointment with the way the holiday traditions have deteriorated in favor of the commercial shopping frenzy, you will enjoy your holiday season. I do it less and less each year, not only because most of my friends are no longer with us, but because it's hard to enjoy a holiday season that's been grossly overadvertised since about mid-August.

RE