This holiday season, retailers are being extra nice, and not just to the regulars.

  It is hard when your dog gets old, especially for the humans who live with him.

  I never cared about Santa Claus. But he was the conceit that delivered the one thing I did want.

  One white lie opens the door for thousands of lies ?hurtful lies, egregious lies, fabulously elaborate lies.

  A writer creates her own vision of a made-for-TV husband and kids, where even the flaws are adorable.

  On the road I didn?t have to explain myself, or why I felt I didn?t have anywhere to go.

  During one Christmas, the writer is touched by God?s hand, or a reasonable facsimile.

  A Christmas Rorschach reveals the fault lines in a family of storytellers.

  A holiday dodger finds there is nowhere to hide to avoid Hanukkah, Christmas, New Year?s, fill in the blank.

  Despite the feeling of an exclusive club, there are no guest lists to subvert, no guards to impress.

  Hanging out at the Public Theater with Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin, who have written five books with each other, including ?The Nanny Diaries.?

  The Oak Room at the Plaza revives the Posset, an ancient, festive cocktail.

  This week, more answers to readers?questions about holiday dilemmas.

  Joel Priddy?s eye-catching adaptation of O. Henry?s classic Christmas tale, ?The Gift of the Magi?and other books.