I LOVE THE FUCKING HOLIDAYS. Everyone around me is happy and joyful. Everyone I see is hopeful about our future (George W. Bush is gone Jan. 20th). I ride down the street and people wave and say hi. Chicago is the best city ever, big like NY and LA, but midwest friendly. Someone this morning shoveled our walk before we even woke up. I've been invited to 4 holiday parties so far and I'll try to make them all. Tonight my family and I are decorating our house for the first time in years. There are plenty of reason to be down and out but, for the first time in a long time we Americans can be optimistic. 
I'm glad you are so upbeat about the holidays. I've come to feel increasingly the opposite over the last few years, since I'm missing the person I enjoyed spending the hiolidays with most.
In no way is it my intention to put any kind of damper on your holiday spirit. I wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday from the bottom of my heart.