Traditions are a wonderful thing, and Santa is a Christmas tradition at our house. Me and Big George decided (okay, I decided and Big George relented) to have our picture taken with the jolly guy this year, which is the second time in three years we've done so. Yes, the routine is becoming a tradition, although don't tell George I said so or he'll have to sigh--again.

I thought I'd launch another new tradition this December by sharing some of your FABULOUS TwinkleGram responses. I love hearing from you, and I'm sure after reading a few of my Top Picks you'll already be looking forward to next December's traditional annual roundup. But remember, to make the 2007 cut, first you'll have to respond, so feel free to let me know what you're thinking as the year marches on.

I'll start by repeating a topical line or two and/or question(s) from each TwinkleGram then follow up with some of your feedback. So sit back and enjoy your own wisdom and humor, you wonderful TwinkleGrammers, you!

When do you think YOU got to old to (fill in the blank)? What simple pleasure have you absent mindedly or by choice perhaps errantly left behind? Forgotten about? Given up on? --Patti Responds--"I took my youngest, Colleen, to the park just the other day. The weather has been so glorious we just had to go! (Plus it was the day before her 5th birthday. We were celebrating her last day of being 4...actually I just pretended to celebrate, inside I was somehow very melancholy). Usually I push her on the swing and basically just watch her play. This time she asked me to play follow the leader. I happened to be in work out clothes so I agreed. We climbed *up* the slide, went down the slide...on our back-sides, on our bellies, hands first, feet first, you name it! Then, we headed to the swings. I assumed my regular position behind the swing to lift her on and then push but she said, "No, mommy. You swing too!" We sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" at the top of our lungs as we swung side by side! Ahhhhh!"

What are your favorite gizmos? (One of mine was the Foodsaver.) --Audrey Responds--"...my projection clock, which I use every day! It always has the correct time since it is one of those atomic clocks, and it projects the time onto the ceiling in our bedroom in red numbers that are about six inches tall and easily visible if I wake up at night." --Kim Responds--"My favorite gadget right now is my sticker maker!!" (Kim, please tell me MORE! cb) --Loreen Responds--"I Love my Kitchenaid, would be sad to go back to mixing cookies and everything else without it." --Vicki Responds--"a Black and Decker scrubber." --Leda Responds--"The best gadget I have ever had is my hubby Ed."

I sent a TwinkleGram about trying to keep my lips moist during the brief time we couldn't fly with lip balm. I got TONS of responses! --Shelley Responds--"I had a lip scraping at the Dr. and he was wondering if I was kissing palm branches in the south pacific. He then referred to me as Hot Lips. Funny Dr.! He said it was fungus you couldn't see." --Dana Responds--"My husband has complained for years that I got him ?addicted? to lip balm. I claim different." --Debra Responds--"Had to let you know that before I could finish reading your "TwinkleGram" I was running through my house, emptying drawers and purses looking for Chapstick. I almost had to go for the Vaseline, but finally found a stick. I don't think I've every felt more dehydrated in my life!!! Do you realize the power of suggestion your writing has?"

Can you believe I almost swallowed a bullet? (For those of you who didn't read this, I had it in my MOUTH, mixed in with other pills I take every morning. Thankfully the metallic taste caused me to spit it out before swallowing.) - -Linda Responds--"Okay, now the truth....I confess ...sigh... the same happened to me!!!!(but I have kept it a secret until now!)" --Chris Responds--"Just think--you could have picked up a BUG! I'm also glad for your fast reflexes and that you didn't actually BITE the bullet. It could have had such a nasty outcome--sorry, that came out like a pun and none was intended." --Dana Responds--"Enjoyed your "bullet biting" story! Reminded me of the time my husband (who by the way will be 55; but this happened a few years ago, so no excuse) almost ate a rubber band - a BIG rubber band! I can't remember just what exactly he thought it was that he was eating at the time; but rest assured, every time I see a rubber band that size I hand it to him and tell him to save it for dessert!" --Gundega Responds-- "Me being someone who once swallowed a toy goose made of lead and then washed it down with a bottle of ink, nothing that enters the mouth surprises me! True, I was four years old then -- but when I now make myself switch to reader glasses before I take any pills, it's with the wisdom of experience then and now."

THANK YOU to everyone who talked back, and thank you also to everyone who merely thought about talking back and/or read the TalkBack. You TwinkleGrammers make my life so much more FUN and I look forward to our continued conversations (even if I'm the only one talking) in 2007. If you have time to spare and missed a few of these stories along the way, go to the TwinkleGram home page (www.twinklegram.com), scroll to the bottom and spend some time in the archives.

To enter the DOROTHY contest

To check out my FINAL book tour stops

Take me to the SURVEY (If it's before midnight 12/5/06)

To pick up a Traveling Laugh (Charlene's new humor travel blog)

To learn more about my speaking