I like to give our Christmas trees a little pep talk as I strip them of all their glory and send them out into the frigid winter. I thank them for absorbing all the chaos of the season and reflecting back its peace. They have all been, to a trunk, stalwart companions, noble conifers even, [...]
We live in an enviable neighborhood, not for it's zip code, or architecture or even the park for which its named. The real asset of our neighborhood is its people and the way they treat each other. Yesterday, we found a small package hanging from our door knob. This is not unusual in our neck [...]
Late out of the blocks this year, I have been chasing Christmas ever since. In fact, I'd barely shaken the cinder dust off Thanksgiving, when I looked up and saw Santa rounding the first turn. I panicked just a little. It would be a ho-ho-horrible thing to be lapped by an old, jelly-bellied man in [...]
We said good bye to my favorite Christmas tree yesterday and I hummed a little as I (you should cover your eyes here) disrobed her. She seemed a little magical and we thought, for a brief period, that she may have taken root in our family room. How else might we explain her increasing good [...]
Twelve days before Christmas I sat on a couch next to Molly cursing a little as I strung stale popcorn on thin thread that kept slipping from the confoundingly small hole of its needle. She leaned over and calmly said, "You know, I find this very relaxing. I don't mind finishing myself." "Absolutely not," I [...]