Something to do with your spare time during the holidays

Spare time during the run-up to Christmas? Am I nuts?

Some would think so. Many do. Most people my wife and I know roll their eyes when we tell them that we don’t exchange gifts with each other and that we’ve worked out mutually beneficial deals with our closest family and friends not to swap meaningless trinkets in the last week of December.

This makes life much simpler this time of year.

So while most Americans are celebrating the season by pouring money into the ample pockets of the Walton family, I find myself with a little spare time to do something I’ve always wanted to do.

I’m learning to play “Lady Madonna” on the piano. This fellow makes it much easier than I expected!

I don’t play the piano, and when I’m done with this project, “Lady Madonna” will be the only thing I play. But I’ll play it pretty well, I imagine.

If called upon at a holiday party this time next year, I should be able to sit down and pound out a pretty nice rendition.

But if it’s your party and you’ve invited my wife and me? We won’t show up with gifts.