i realise its xmas time

When the salvation army santas are on every street corner with their red buckets and bells
When I hear carols in the elevators instead of kitaro or vivaldi's four seasons
When the shops start offering you boxes with your purchases
When it takes 10 minutes to walk across the rockefeller center block because everyone is gawking at that tree
When toy stores are madhouses
When children dance on the streets with irrepressible joy
When its cold enough to go skiing in Central Park
When the air is spiked with smells of hot apple cider and gingerbread
When starbucks comes up with its version of xmas drinks (eggnog latte anyone?)
When my cousins start belting xmas songs and shimmying to music in stores and I dont feel too embarassed.
Merry xmas and a happy new year to all =)