Christmas with the Family

December 23, 2003

Today I watched my mother dart quickly from store-to-store as she finished her last minute shopping. I couldn't help but wonder why people make such a fuss about Christmas. I myself become very frustrated around this time of year. It only adds to the stress and depression which I battle with.

There are no ways to escape the festivities of Christmas. Every store you browse is plastered with decorations, and every radio station plays the same holiday music. It happens every year, and sadly there is no way of stopping it...not even a crashed economy nor a broken Wall Street. Christmas still goes on!

Growing Up

I was raised in a middle class family. My mother and father were and still are religious. They found it of high importance to raise their children in church. In fact missing church was considered a deadly sin. At the time I never appreciated my parents religious stand; however, as I look back after 21 years I can honestly say they raised me well.

So at 21-years-old where am I now? I ask myself this question all the time. I would like to say that I have the answer. After all, the answer (we may count it as a solution) will be needed to solve the problem. In the world of Mathematics one must search for the solution until the problem is solved. The Mathematician understands that his/her job is not complete without finding that small piece of information that completes the puzzle. I consider myself a mathematician, standing before a green chalk board, writing out the problem and searching for the solution. The solution contains key information: where am I in life, where am I going, and most importantly where will I end up.