Today it is cold. Bitter cold. A day to forgo the Woods Walk. A day to stay in the warm Den. Uno is our new game, taught to us by Morgan. It is fun, easy, and fast. Do not forget to call out Uno. Brooks Pond is icing over, only to thaw by mid-week, when temperatures will return to the 60s.

Time is fluid. You can not hold on to it. There is Aunt Vema and Uncle Ed after Christmas dinner at Neva Js, laughing and talking about heading back to Stonefort before darkness fell, while Vema chain-smoked. Neva J was in her Christmas glory. She had been preparing since Thanksgiving for the big day. What appeared to observers from afar to take a day or two of preparation required a month for Neva J. The Old Man thought of Christmas Vacation from school and visits to the Orpheum Theatre. He thought of Scrooge and Tiny Tim and the moral of the lovely story of Victorian England. He played with his new miniature pool table, which he fit into his small bedroom. The pool table and the 12-inch black and white television represented Christmas Nirvana. Billy B had his own sense of place in the midst of the country home of Neva J. The coal/wood stove adjacent to the kitchen was cherry red with fire for the entire house. Box fans assisted in the heat distribution of the antique stove.

Aaron and Jonathon’s eyes were bright with Christmas surprise. They had received a Nintendo 64. They could not believe their good fortune. MJ and I marvelled at the technology whereby you could play baseball on the television screen. It was a Brave New World. Granda Fernie and Grandpa Berl would be arriving soon. Granpa Earl and Grandma Neva J would be bringing the smoked ham, and Neva J would enjoy multiple shots of rum when she arrived. The large Christmas Tree was festooned with blinking bubble lights and silver garland. Rum Cake and box wine were enjoyed by the 24 people enjoying the Christmas Mystery in a warm four-room house. There was laughter and song as everyone talked at once. We were rich in spirit and the Gift of the Magi. Life was a riddle revealed at Christmas. A Blo-Mould Nativity sat next to the Japanese Maple Tree in the front yard. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were lit with the light of the Star of Bethlehem. The fine Porcelain Nativity purchased by MJ and the Old Man sat in a seat of esteem. It was their proudest Christmas possession.

The lake effect winds of Chicago blew with Christmas passion. Billy B, Neva J, Ivy Susie, and Steve attended the movie Lady And The Tramp. People were everywhere. All were carrying brightly wrapped Christmas Packages. Billy B was overwhelmed. He wanted to live with the Darling family and be a part of Lady and Tramp’s life. Christmas morning, he sat under the humongous Christmas Tree with Neva J and his Dad Bill. They looked so happy. Billy B had Laughing Santa on his lap. Laughing Santa was his constant friend.

We exchanged Dirty Santa Christmas gifts with Marcy Brock, Jaime Morgan and Jeb. I received a glass inscribed with Brooks. I love it. MJ received a coffee cup with drawings of male genitalia. She loves it. We dined in a private dining room with Victorian Christmas decorations, and it was wonderful. Jeb and I laughed about the two-inch pork chops. We thought next time perhaps the inch pork chops would be sufficient. We stopped for a Whisky shot pour and had a ten-dollar shot. It said Christmas Angelic Joy. The name of the Whisky was Angel Envy.

So how does this time of year give us such enduring memories? We see each other through the eyes of the Baby in the Manger. Our preoccupied human eyes receive the Balm of Gilead. For a time, we know our purpose. We understand our mission. The fog clears. It really is about the birth so long ago in a barn with the Wisemen and Shepherds. It really is about the Promise and the Mystery.