It's Christmas eve. I slept late today, unfortunately missing the opportunity to get ahead on the multiple tasks of cooking, cleaning and wrapping. I worked at the English garden madhouse for a while, fought my way through an incredibly busy and absolutely humming grocery store, and walked home through the sunshine and past the hummingbirds to ready my little house for Christmas. It's looking pretty good here by now. There's plenty left to do, but there are lights on the tree, fire in the hearth, food in the oven, dogs begging in the kitchen, Tim in the bedroom wrapping, glass of wine in my hand and sugar cookies rolling on the counter for dessert. I propose a little toast. Here's to all the makers of Christmas. The sleepless, tipsy or hungover stuffers of stockings, the tired bringers of magic under the tree, the empty bank account granters of Christmas wishes, the fighters through traffic and airport security lines, the kitchen slaves of festive dinners, the sufferers of school Christmas concerts and cartoon Christmas specials and everyone who digs withing themselves to find more energy, more patience and more love to make special moments and experiences for their families and loved ones. May you all have light and sparkle in the darkness, warmth from any cold, love in your hearts and may all your deepest, most important Christmas wishes come true.
