The Merchant of Venus

A drama about a pound of flesh

by Joie de Vivre

I ate whatever I wanted on Thanksgiving day... and the day after.... and the day after.

That's how long it took to go through all the leftovers :)

I also gained weight.

I may be making a great assumption here, but I am going to guess I am not the only person in America to have done so.  I am also going to go out on quite the long limb by saying that I imagine there is a slew of holiday revelers who are kicking themselves, if not starving themselves, in the festivities' aftermath.

They have vowed to stop eating for the rest of the year.  Gotta fit into that little black NYE dress. After all, they fought long and hard for it on Black Friday, having to camp out all night at the mall and dodge the random stream of pepper spray.

But ya know what.... it's just weight.  Our physical pounds may come and go.. or come and keep on coming at times.  But the goodwill and delightful memories we keep from our holiday revelings stay with us long after the calories have been burned off. Plus, if you washed enough Thanksgiving dinner dishes you may have burned them off already!

Is it really worth letting a few excess pounds of flesh take away our joy this season?  Or can we resolve to enjoy ourselves and one another during this sweet time of year. There will be plenty of opportunities to drop those pounds, and to look at every circumstance during the holiday frenzy as a chance to live the axiom of 'peace on earth, good will toward men". 

Next time you can't find a parking spot close to the shop door, smile -- you get to expend a few more calories.  Is there a person in a rush behind you in the checkout line?  Why not make their day and let them go ahead of you?  What a lovely holiday gift to offer a stranger, your time, your attention and your respect.

You will never appear lovelier than when you share love and kindness.  Your smile and thoughtfulness will get those 'likes' and kind comments on the holiday Facebook photos you post far faster than if you focused on acquiring a rocket body and neglected those who love you.

You can lose the weight -- promise.

So go celebrate life with those you love.  It will put roses in your cheeks and a spring in your step.. and you will look beautiful. 

Pint-sized Pirates Commandeer the Holidays

Kids share treasures with homeless counterparts in philanthropic adventure

by Joie de Vivre

The costumes have been put away, pumpkins smashed, and sugar rushes survived, but kids across the country are being called on to indulge their inner Jack Sparrow once again in search of treasure.  

Conceived and created on a spur-of-the-moment whim, Shared Treasure Hunt is a not-remotely-for-profit entity designed to aid homeless children while teaching more fortunate children the value of philanthropy.

Here be a Piece of 8 medallion
for our little scallywags to wear with pride,
as a show of their participation.
SImply print it out (perhaps reinforced
with cardboard backing) and attach
to any chain, ribbon, string etc. Voila!
An instant custom STH pirate necklace

As our first show of piracy, our fledgling do-gooder group is staging a Black Jack Friday event, on November 25, 2011.  Children are invited to participate by collecting 21 items (hence the ‘black jack’ tie-in) to be delivered to a homeless child the day after Thanksgiving.  

The hope is that the recipient will be awed and grateful, the participating scallawag will feel warm and tingly inside while learning a valuable life lesson, and all involved will enjoy the opportunity to do something a little different than just camping out at the mall.

Any child, or anyone who knows a child, is invited to join in the jolly holiday fun.  There is no cost, though the investment in goodwill may be substantial.  

For more information, or just to use the “what’s my pirate name” link, visit Shared Treasure Hunt on Facebook.