It just ain’t Christmas without the kids

And so this is Christmas. The holiday has varied in quality over the years, but one thing I can say for certain: The Christmases with a lot of family around are the ones I remember best.

This year we’re especially happy because we have kids flying in from all over, at great inconvenience and expense. We feel this proves they love us. And of course we love to have them here in any case. I really appreciate a holiday where the TV may be on in the background, but it’s not the main event. The main event is stories and jokes and memories and board games I hardly ever win. When the kids are around, it’s the one circumstance where I don’t fret about the reality of getting older. Or at least I fret only a little.

Above is my granddaughter June. She’s only a year and a half old, but she smiles and laughs a lot and I don’t care if she’s not yet full of questions about presents and Santa Claus. Having a toddler in the house makes me think back to when I first played Santa for my own kids, so many years ago. Christmas may not be just for children, but a Christmas without them is just not the same.

Anyway, Merry Christmas to all. And to all a good night.