Today is a pretty day with lots of sun and lots of blue. It is warmer than yesterday, all the way to 26°. I am down to one can of dog food and a couple of packets of pumpkin for dogs. I figure I can mix the two and pick up the cans of dog food tomorrow as I’ll be out anyway for PT at 11. I love to confine my errands to one day. That allows for a sense of accomplishment and free days the rest of the week to loll.

Yesterday was a Merry Christmas. I had coffee and read the paper then I opened the presents from my sisters and oohed and ahhed. The presents were unique. From the flea market came the neatest, old fashion metal noisemakers decorated for New Year’s with a couple wearing masks when they danced. They joined my collection. From my home town came a cookbook and a picture of the 10-Footer, the backyard shoe shop belonging originally to Mr. Doucette, a designated historical site. There were woven baskets, decorations like a really neat looking cloth Christmas tree with what sort of looks like three sets of arms, a gift card from my favorite place to shop, Ring Brothers, and my cinnamon lollipops just to name a few of my gifts.

I had a great time opening packages despite Nala checking out every package. My sister Sheila gave the dogs each a new stuffed animal which makes a squealing sound. I find the toys all over. They are a hit as were the frosted Christmas dog cookies she sent, two for each pup. She sent me my peanut butter balls and my sweetened walnuts. I take one peanut butter ball every time I am in the kitchen. I find myself making extra trips. Dinner was late, spaced well after my shrimp and my clam chowder. It was delicious.

Today is a lazy day. I’m going to read through my new cookbook and look at all my presents. I’ll munch a few See’s chocolates, a gift from my sister Moe in Colorado. I have cheese and crackers. I have egg nog. Today will be a sterling day!

Merry Christmas! I hope for all of you the most wonderful day, a most memorable day filled with the joys of Christmas. Let the festivities begin.

All the Christmas lights are lit. I even lit the red pepper lights and the clam lights in the kitchen. The house is merry. I will open presents and drink some egg nog, a perfect way to spend the morning. I’ll play Christmas carols all day. I’m wearing my Christmas flannel pants, the height of coziness in the spirit of the day. My slippers keep my feet warm. I have Christmas cookies, a gift from my friend and neighbor. The coffee is fresh, strong and hot. It is a perfect Christmas morning, and I haven’t even opened my gifts yet. Amazing!

Today is freezing again. We have snow flurries. We had some yesterday, and they stayed on the grass. My walk is clear, the snow blown by the wind. The temperature is 20°, and, with the wind, feels like 9°. I have nowhere I want to be, except home.

I remember the first look through the banister at the tree surrounded by presents on Christmas morning. The view was jaw dropping. I was awed. In the front were always the games. I remember the year Sorry had the front spot. My Ginny and her new furniture had a bit of the spotlight one year. I remember first seeing her pink bed. My bike towered over everything. I didn’t care if I had another present under the tree. I had already gotten the best present.

When we were older, and in a different house from our childhood, the presents were in piles about the living room in the same spots every Christmas. All the presents in the four piles were wrapped. That made for some shaking and some guessing before opening the gifts. My father would always get a trash bag for the discarded wrappings. He would hold it in front of us so we could collect the piles of paper and put them in the bag. My dad and his trash bag is a memory from the back of the memory drawer which I only open once a year, at Christmas. The trash bag is a cherished memory, not the usual Christmas memory, but cherished because it has my Dad.