"What's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in 'em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you?" (Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol)

Ron: One of the reasons I love to reread Dickens every December is that I get to contemplate the question: What's Christmas time to me, then? And the answer almost always makes me glad. In addition to being the one sure time of the year I know I'll be reuniting with my extended family, Christmas 2005 is particularly joyous because I have so much to be thankful for over the last twelve months. I've become a published author; I've chanced upon an opportunity not only to blog professionally but to do so as part of a fantastic collaboration; and this is my first Christmas as a married man. (Of course, Christmas isn't the only cause for celebration this time of year, and married life has made me a more active participant in other festivities as well!)

This season is also given over to remembering those less fortunate than ourselves, so I'd like to pause for a moment to acknowledge Amazon's fundraising (especially for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita) and to note a page on Workman Publishing's website offering a wide variety of charitable resources.

Sarah: The holiday season also brings out my own sense of reflection, and this year seemed to require plenty of it. Though there was tumult, there was lots of good -- chiefly to do with coming back to the city I adore most and know best. And as Ron says, Galleycat wouldn't be nearly as fun to do if either of us were by ourselves, so here's to the spirit of collaboration.

Joyeux Noel Chanukat Sameach, and Happy Holidays!