The holidays are upon us.

Yes, the holidays.

Some love these times.  Some loathe them

My feelings can vacillate drastically between the two extremes.  Though, to be truthful, I would evaluate my feelings as abundantly neutral.  Numbness, sadly, is the determined sensation, or lack thereof,  at this time of year.

And in the course of my labor efforts, I am afforded scant breaks coupled with oft-interupted, lunch/dinner time.  During these times I enjoy reading.   As I am routinely interrupted during my reprieves, I have taken to reading short stories and easily picked-up/put-down books.  It happens that I have recently chosen David Sedaris’s Holidays on Ice as a leisure read.

While most of the stories struck me as humorous, they do cause me to question why, exactly, did this quality of writing become published. However, there was a story that left me with strong impressions.

This was a story about service at a mortuary/coroners office, and the stories and backgrounds that surrounded the deceased.  According to the story, a woman was struck dead by a vehicle. This vehicle had veered off course, and then motored through the flimsy facade of a fast-food establishment and terminated a woman who was in line for a burger, in addition to some other form of refreshment.

The affirmation of the story seemed to be the fragile, and tenuous nature of our existence.  And I must agree with this.  As many precautions as I take, I do wonder when the seemingly innocuous driver next to me on the freeway will suddenly nod at the wheel, and careen into oncoming traffic.  And, I also am concerned about the non-signaling, speed freak, who I will see 4 miles down the road at a stoplight, whose behaviors mean nothing but potential accidents.

Be aware.

Be cognizant.

Have connection with the world about you.

And even if as you do these simple things, life could be short as