Sadly, the annual tradition of strangers wishing glad tidings to other strangers has gone the way of department store Santas, stars atop Christmas Trees (on public or commercial property,) Peace on Earth and Goodwill To Men. "Christmas" is a dirty word now and no matter how bad the economy gets, Macy's and The Gap et al won't dare utter the word until they post their first After Christmas Sale (!) ads on December 26.
