No more anticipation, the hoopla is over. Yesterday morning I opened the gifts from my sister, and yesterday afternoon I opened my stocking and gifts from my friends. Unwrapping each surprise, each wonderful gift, was great fun. There were some antique gifts: a wooden noisemaker with moving gears, an ugly Santa, old valentines like the ones we gave out as kids, and an old ladies hat perfect to wear for an afternoon tea or an evening at the theater. I wore it while I opened my other presents. The occasion seemed to lend itself to a hat.

I got the best t-shirt for Christmas. It says, “This is My Hallmark Christmas Movie Watching Shirt.” It also has a red pickup truck hauling a Christmas tree on it. I watched countless Hallmark movies this year. It didn’t matter that they had similar plots and a stable of stars reappearing in movie after movie. What matters is they all had happy endings, and that’s the best sort at Christmas time.

My plans for today are simple: hang around the house in my cozy clothes, look through my presents again and enjoy a lazy day. I’m thinking an afternoon spent reading my new book while drinking an eggnog or two might just be a perfect way to while away the day.

The afternoon is cold at 35˚, the high for the day. The winter sunshine is diffused, almost muted. It is purely for show. There is a periodic breeze, but mostly it’s a quiet day. Henry is asleep curled upon the couch.

When I was a kid, the week after Christmas, after all the excitement, was sort of boring. If we stayed inside, we’d play our new games or I’d sequester myself in my quiet bedroom to read one of my new books. If we had snow, we’d all be out sledding down the hill. If the day was warm enough, we’d use our bikes. Bedtime wasn’t defined during vacations. I went to bed when I was tired. I’d go upstairs and read myself to sleep. It was vacation so my mother never yelled up the stairs for me to turn off my light and go to sleep. I think I read forever.”

Merry Christmas,

We had fun last night constructing and decorating our gingerbread houses. My construction was not without its problems. My walls kept falling in. I’d start on the roof decorations then notice the missing wall. Finally I had to hold the walls for a while until the frosting dried. That worked. The most difficult part of the construction was not taking a bite out of the roof. The gingerbread smell was just so strong and sweet.

No papers were delivered this morning. I feel bereft. I didn’t wake up until 10 so my presents are still waiting for me under the tree. The smell of the fresh coffee is enticing me. I’m thinking a Christmas cookie is an acceptable breakfast on Christmas morning.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for staying around and being a part of Coffee all these years. Without you, I’d just be blattering.