The trees and storefronts decorated with millions of twinkling lights and balsam fir, the crisp cold air; even the normally grumpy New Yorkers seemed to smile more. Besides, it didn't hurt that winter in general was my absolute favorite time of the year; the glistening of freshly fallen snow always made me feel like a kid again.I loved Christmastime. Not because I was shallow and wanted to get presents; I just genuinely loved giving gifts. There was no greater feeling than seeing someone you love smile because you had picked out the perfect gift for them.The thing I really looked forward to every year since we were in college, was our Ugly Sweater Party. It started as a big celebration with hundreds of people, but over the years it had morphed into something just for the four of us. We would decorate the condo by trimming our artificial spruce tree and hanging the stockings, and then we'd get some spiked eggnog, throw on the ugliest Christmas sweater we could find, and exchange our gifts.We celebrated on December twenty second since the guys always travelled home on the twenty third.
