I’m writing this from my bed in the new abode, surrounded by boxes but overlooking my new patio and the lush landscaping beyond it, taking in the quiet of a post-holiday morning when everyone else is too exhausted to rise.

Christmas was very simple this year.  There were presents for everyone, albeit small ones; no Christmas tree, just a humungous poinsettia plant.  Dinner was ham, stuffing, and veggies, served on paper plates because I still haven’t found all my serving wares.  There are roughly 40 boxes remaining, most of them stacked in my bedroom.  But even without all the trappings and trimmings, this was a really good Christmas.  Even the movie we saw, Marley & Me, surprised me with its gosh-darned goodness.

Mom has taken a liking to having her own room.  The Kid absolutely loves her new space, her new window, her new bed from Aunty Melissa and Uncle Matt.  The Other Parent, visiting for the holiday, is camped on the living room sofa and can snore all he wants – no one else can really hear him.  And anything else that is going on outside, be it traffic or loud neighbors or barking animals, remains outside; the apartment is hermetically sealed from nearly every intrusion.  It’s 46 degrees outside and 60 degrees inside.  Without using the heater.

I’m in a good place this Christmas.  A broke place, true, but a good place nonetheless.  My family has privacy, security, and little use for layers of heavy blankets at night.  It’s the best Christmas gift I’ve ever given myself.

I hope you all had a blessed, fun-filled, family-affirming, friendship-building Christmas Day.  Tell us whatcha did!