Christmas: An Appreciation
As a lifelong holiday enthusiast, I had very few reservations about hosting a Christmas Eve party last year. It was actually an honor to be entrusted with such a task. Shelbey and I bought a house for two reasons. One was to be able to have a dog ( see the previous post ). The other was to be able to host family and friends. And for a Christmas lover, the night before is a coveted event to have at one's home. Our first Christmas Eve in our first house felt like a crowning achievement after a few years of rapid aging. A new relationship turned into an engagement. That led to wedding planning and eventually the big day itself. I started a painting business somewhere in there. We also hunted for houses and brought home a dog and named him Gus. Christmas was there waiting with open arms at the end of the line. And I was ready for a jolly hug. My parents and brothers came. Shelbey's brother and sister-in-law brought over our niece and nephew. Uncle Dave and Aunt ...
