Happy Stressy-family Crazy Day To You!

OK. So I was going to post a list of articles and links for ways to deal with the stress of the holidays and the loveliness that is a family dinner. Instead, let me just give you a couple of thoughts. First, in Slate this week, Dear Prudence, the advice columnist, fielded a question from a woman whose boyfriend's family was charging $40 per head for their tholiday dinner. If you are not invited to this particular waystation to hell, give thanks right now. See, if your thankful list was slim you've just added one more thing to it.
Also, this is the season where we all tend toward unattainable goals. We're going to have the most beautifully decorated home, the most perfect dinner, and we worry about every facet of being both a giver and a receiver. Just remember this, in the words of that brilliant goddess of wisdom Anne Lamott,

"Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor."