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  It is hard to believe that this is my last blog for 2015. This year really flew by.

  The holidays are a busy time. We’re all running around from work to office parties to the stores to buy gifts and to gatherings with family and friends. While, for many, it’s a fun time, it is also a very hectic time. I wonder how often, especially during the holidays, people take time just for themselves.    

I don't know where it came from, Jews going out for Chinese on Christmas. I am not sure I ever have. This year Eve's father came over and she made a delicious dinner. But we did go out for Chinese last night, a new upscale Asian restaurant in Rye.  It was quite good.  

It's the day after Christmas and there are new toys to be played with, clothes to be tried on, books to read and instructions to consult.   I was given a new beard trimmer, beard balm, handmade knit hat, golf club cleaning kit, book on the 500 best golf holes (looks like a bucket list to me ;), water bottle and a small leather bound book to keep my golf scores (especially when I beat Norm).   The best gift I received were hugs from the people I love and care about. To me it's not about the things I get but the thoughts and feelings I share.

Whenever it is Christmas I think of dearly departed Bob Formica, our Networker of the Decade in 2007.  I cherish the above picture which captures his twinkling spirit, holiday season or otherwise.  He was one extraordinary, terrific guy and he had a great sense of humor.  He was a great addition to Gotham and my life and I miss him dearly.

This blog is not written by Scroog. However, I noticed that I received fewer holiday cards this year than ever before. Several years ago the trend of fewer paper (and mailed) cards replaced by eCards became more and more apparent, but this year I received fewer holiday greeting cards of either kind.

On this day in 1783, George Washington returned to Mount Vernon, after disbanding his Army, following the Revolutionary war. They had their final meal at Fraunces Tavern, where you can have a meal yourself today in lower Manhattan. Kind of amazing to think you can eat where George actually presided over this historic gathering.