Friends, this is a lousy time to ask for donations

Hi, I just typed for at least two hours, a response to this. 
It was really a great response, but I thought it a bit too
much personal exposure on my part, and a bit too critical of a
position I think I once, to some extent, held.  I kept going
back and revising and revising and revising, and I finally
figured out, my response just wasn't ready for prime time.  So
I copied it and pasted it away for future use.

Besides, I really don't want to hurt your feelings.  And I
really hate to be a "grinch."  So let me cut to the
chase.

I don't want to make you feel guilty. I can't contribute
either, so who am I to say.  And, this site shouldn't make you
feel guilty because you can't contribute now.  I haven't been
on this site very often lately, but I do think the
contribution solicitation is always there.  I don't think this
site will appreciate your contribution any less in February.

Like all things involving human beings, we have hopes,
aspirations, expectations, etc.  At this point in history, I,
personally, would tell you to forget Christmas gifts entirely,
and tell your children you are making an investment for them
and their children.  But who am I to say such a thing.  My
world was not the world that is yours.  No such critical
moment popped up in my time.

However, whatever this site's goals may be, and whatever
little cartoonized scale on the opening page, surely, you
know, just like NPR and ETV and United Way, and all the rest
of those valuable organizations who need the support of those
who believe in them, those organizations will take a donation
any time, any place, anywhere, from anyone.  (I don't have a
credit card so somebody has to give me a snail mail address.)

I am glad you recognize with words that there are those who
are worse off than you.  I recognize there are those worse off
than me, and I know them.  I am 68 years old and haven't been
able to send Christmas cards for ten years.  I got a $9 a
month social security increase last year.  That's a loaf of
bread and two gallons of milk a month.  I worked years and
truly believed that the taxes I paid were doled out to see
that no American ever had to live as I live.  My adult
children and grandchildren get nothing except what I can craft
from odds and ends for Christmas, and often I can't afford the
postage to send it at Christmas time.  My adult children, who
are hard hit at Christmas time, buying gifts for their
children, need from me, from the entire family, at times,
money to buy antibiotics, have a tooth pulled, or pay the
rent.  But, oh, they do have to buy those Christmas gifts. 
So, during the year, I contribute five bucks or ten bucks for
the various crises, and I forget about Christmas.  I don't
receive Christmas gifts or cards.  I don't send them, either. 
The cost of the cards is ridiculous, and the cost of the
postage is even more ridiculous.

Frustrated, you gotta do what you gotta do when you gotta do
it.  The room won't die without your contribution at the
moment, and your donation at a later time will be just as
useful.  Everyone has a goal.  I guess this site had a certain
goal.  There is no need for you to ask why now.  Just send it
when you can.

And, if the room will send me a snail mail address, I will do
the same.

Merry Christmas.

Good grief, this is almost as long as the other one.  Yikes. 
Got to put a paper bag over my head for this one.