Today is winter. It is cold, 35°. The sky is partly blue as the sun has poked through the grey clouds, but the sun isn’t enough. It is light, not warmth. It is a day to stay close to hearth and home.

This cold is still hanging around. I spend my days on the couch, mostly napping. The dogs join me.

A box from my sister Moe was delivered yesterday. I have left it unopened. I figured Nala would steal whatever she could. My backyard would be cluttered with wrapping paper, festive but nonetheless messy.

My mother used to put wrapped presents for each of us under the tree. We knew what one of the presents was, new pajamas. She would tell us on Christmas Eve we could open one gift, but she wouldn’t let us pick. It was always the new pajamas. It was always anticlimactic.

My sister Moe has a Christmas talent. She can pick up a gift, shake it a couple of times and then guess correctly what it is. She honed this talent when she was young. Back then she’d tear a small piece off the corner of the wrapped gifts under the tree, hers and ours, and then guess the gift. She was right every time.

My mother used to hide gifts in the eaves and in a downstairs closet. One Christmas Eve I was awakened by music. I peeked. My father was in the eaves and my mother was below, in the hall. He was handing the gifts to her, the Santa gifts, the gifts she had hidden. The toy that woke me was a push toy for my sister Moe. It played music when you pushed it. I stayed awake listening. My mother made trip after trip carrying presents down the stairs. When they were both in the living room, I crept down the stairs. I watched them put the presents under the tree. I didn’t get caught. After a bit, I sneaked back to bed and easily fell asleep. Morning came quickly.

I am taking today off and also maybe tomorrow. My cold has returned with a vengeance. All I want to do is snuggle under warm covers and sleep. I am taking cold meds which do seem to be helping as I actually slept through the night. It is only when I move that I cough and get short of breath. What is the punch line of that old joke? Then don’t move!

If I feel better later, I’ll post some music.

I already need a nap!!

Talk to you later!