Yes, it’s a hectic time of the year, expectations are running high, there are too many things to do with precious little time, and chances are you’re going to forget to wrap one of the gifts you bought for someone.

Welcome to the holidays.

Though they come around every year at the same time, I often find myself in that last-minute pinch, hoping to get everything bought, wrapped and sent off before the ‘must send by’ date to arrive at their destination for placement under the tree.

There have definitely been some near-misses along the way but somehow it always seems to work out.

Except for the famed caramel popcorn balls my dad made and sent me a couple of years ago that, because of an address snafu, went back and forth across the country three times before they finally made it into my hands. They were eaten and enjoyed, even in January.

One Christmas Eve, I stayed at the office (back in snowy upstate New York) much later than intended since the UPS truck was carrying a special gift for my nephew that I definitely wanted him to have the next day. He was young, barely in school, but very interested in hunting since his dad, my brother, is a hunter and it was a full set of camouflage gear. The snow was falling, the roads were getting worse but the package arrived and, with many thanks to the driver, my nephew got that gift.

Another year, when I flew out here to California to spend the holidays with my sister and her family, one of my two suitcases didn’t arrive with me. Of course, it was the one that had presents in it for my nieces and nephews. The airline personnel were apologetic and as helpful as they could be, determining the suitcase had gotten on the wrong plane. Silly suitcase. However, it was due to arrive later that night. It did, and they actually had someone drive it from the airport to my sister’s house (probably through the fog) and once again, the holiday was saved.

My intentions are always good, to get things done early, but good intentions also require action, which tends to take me a little longer.

And the older I get, the more I appreciate the holidays being about the people in your life and not necessarily about things. Having the opportunity to ride as a VIP in Escalon’s Christmas Parade with my granddaughter on December 6 was a priceless gift. I put a raffle ticket in for the ‘VIP Experience’ at one of the summer Farmer’s Market nights and was the winner. So, Lorelei and I rode in the fire truck, had a great visit with our driver, Dylan Criteser, and my granddaughter fully embraced waving out the window and shouting “Merry Christmas!” about 200 times along the parade route.

There’s also room for some cheer; my friend and co-worker Michelle was recently leaving a store and was asked for a donation by a bell ringer. Like most people, she used her card at the store and had no cash and apologized for not having anything to drop in the kettle. She moved on and heard a voice behind her asking if she had Cheez-Its in her heart. “Cheez-Its?” she asked, wondering if she heard wrong and the bell ringer was asking if she had the crackers in her cart, maybe looking for a snack as opposed to a donation.

Turns out they were asking if she had ‘Jesus’ in her heart. So this year we have decided to celebrate the holidays here in the office both ways, with Jesus in our hearts and Cheez-Its in our carts.

Marg Jackson is editor of The Oakdale Leader, The Escalon Times and The Riverbank News. She may be reached at mjackson@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 209-847-3021.