Does the following scenario sound familiar?

It's December 2^nd and the newsletter isn't out yet. Tonight is my book group's annual Holiday gathering and not only have I not read the book, I don't remember the title, nor do I have the wrapped (or purchased) the new book for the gift exchange, nor produced the homemade cookies with recipe copied off for all the members. Time for triage: On my way to the party, I will pick up locally made chocolates from Richard Donnelly that will distract with their yumminess from the fact that there will be no recipe. Before that, I will sprint to BookShop Santa Cruz and find a wonderful book, easily, because they have great staff reviews. And, it's too late to worry about the mystery book that I knew the title of but chose to work on my knitting and read other books over the past month. Then, I get to spend the evening among friends I adore (and who will hopefully forgive my shortcomings - again), eating THEIR homemade cookies and walk away with a new book to read and the elusive title of what I was supposed to read! What could be better?

On the second day of Hanukkah I'm still feeling grateful. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, since I'm all about eating surrounded by loved ones. Being an optimist, I'm thankful for my life, my work, this community, my family, health, staff, this beautiful planet, as you may have read before in this column. I'm even thankful to be an optimist. Nauseating, right? I may sound like a simpleton, but I'm smart enough to know that I'm fortunate to be a happy person by nature.

So, even though Green Friday wasn't a raging success, I learned that I don't have to work so hard making cookies for Green Friday AND Thanksgiving dinner simultaneously next year, because you want to be home with your families and far away from shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Really, how lucky are we to have a clientele that shares our values? Next year, we'll choose another holiday event and sale day. We already keep prices as low as possible, so that we can make living green with quality available to the largest number of people.

The store is stocked with wonderful, practical pre-screened green items for the ones you love year round! For the holidays in particular, we have gorgeous cards made from paper impregnated with flower seeds (so your recipients can grow flowers from the cards), driftwood trees, gift certificates, and more. We stock items at every price point, and we LIKE helping you find the perfect gift you didn't realize might make someone's life a little greener before coming into the store. Giving this gift will make you feel great, it will make the planet a better place with less garbage and more love all around. You see how being green can lead to happiness? Propose that idea to someone who hates the holidays. Remind that poor, depressed soul that having a theme always makes decision-making easier.

Warmest wishes to you and yours this holiday season.