I just returned from a funeral. Amid all the hustle and bustle of Christmas and the holidays, life goes on as usual. A friend of mine lost her husband. Her Christmases will be forever different.

We are the lucky ones who aren't touched by grief, but instead complain about all that has to get done before that magic day arrives. A couple of seasons ago, I was very sick with a flu that lasted for months. I remember not really caring about the festivities and so I relate grief to that sickness. Health brings joy to our lives. Grief and sickness takes the celebration away.

Many people will face grief and sadness this time of the year. If you are one of them, my heart goes out to you and I pray for joy to return to your life.

1. Rotten nuts? Yeah, we love the nuts in the shells during this season, but about half the bags I've bought were rotten! Pecans and Brazil nuts --- some were brown, rancid and terrible tasting. One time I had to jump up, run to the sink and spit it out! It was awful and ruined my tastebuds for the day. Now I've learned that some of the bags have "new crop" stamped on them, so watch out what you buy, Streamers!

2. Let's face it --- some people are hard to buy for --- there really is nothing they don't have. I wander around hoping an idea will appear. What else to do, besides that mystical Zen shopping thing??? I don't know, so if you have any ideas besides gift cards, tell me quick!

3. I've talked about crazy drivers before, but this holiday season I've noticed more drivers in the wrong lane. It's scary when someone's in a TURN lane, but they go STRAIGHT! Now that's always dangerous!

4. Some of those sappy Christmas movies are almost too silly to watch. Sure, most have the same theme about something or someone keeping Santa from delivering the toys, but a few I do enjoy. My hubby has promised to take me to see the new one, "The Holiday" with that hamster Jack Black!

5. Those "Martha Stewart" clones really get my goat (what does that mean?) when they pooh-pooh my artificial tree in favor of killing the live greenery. Okay, it does smell better, but my sinuses like the fake stuff just fine. The question is --- do artificial trees hold a real place in our memories?

Have a stupendous shopping weekend, Streamers, and avoid any wrestling matches at the mall!!! ~~~ Cyberhugs, Rita B.

Limping into the brightly decorated upscale department store, the wind had gone out of my shopping sails an hour ago, I was just going through the motions of looking around.

Suddenly, a really big man ran across my path!!! He was being chased by a salesman, dressed in shirt and tie, who was at least half his size. They meshed together at the entrance of the double glass doors as the salesman was trying to keep the giant guy from leaving! The big guy made it out the first set of doors, dragging the salesman with him in a duel headlock.

There between the two sets of double glass doors, they fought and wrestled all over the enclosed area including the floor and walls. Not far from the action, I watched in dropped-jaw disbelief as they threw each other around in that glass cage!

A few other shoppers faced the ruckus but stood back and I actually moved forward and thought about going to help the guy, when a younger man came running down the aisle. "That guy needs help!" I yelled, pointing to the commotion and out went the younger guy to join the illegal tag team.

Now both men from the store were working together to not let this big guy exit the store. It was better than anything I've seen on TV! Because of the baggy-pants style of some young men, I was butt-cheek flashed by two of the fellows. The three banged each other around the glass "ring" until they pinned the big guy on a bench up against the wall! Finally, a take-down.

After getting the giant under control, the two men wrestled him all the way to the back of the store. It was melee all the way, since the guy was unruly and loud the entire time, begging to be released and saying he was harmless. I have no idea what he did, but when he tried to get a hand into his pocket, the younger man shouted "Keep your f--king hands where we can see them!" and then reminded the other store man that the guy could have a knife.

All heads were turned toward the trio, and as store clerks mumbled, nosy me followed at a safe distance. Not interested in shopping any more, I passed the ladies and fine jewelry departments, until the men disappeared into the hidden office in the corner. Once gone, everyone seemed to return to normal quickly, but the added excitement made me forget about shopping so I left the store with nothing but a memory.