Today, I won’t be sleigh riding.

I won’t be walking the hills looking for a late season squirrel to bring home for tomorrow’s dinner.

I won’t be breathing in the cold, crisp mountain air purified by millions of acres of trees.

I won’t listen to the crack of frozen tree limbs, or the yap of coyotes talking to each other on a moonless night.

No pepperoni rolls, no Oliverio Peppers, and no Mister Bee Potato Chips.

But I will be with the woman I love, two lovely daughters, and my Florida friends and family around me. The brother-in-law that tenses up for the seasonal Christmas hug I always give him. The nephew’s girlfriend having second thoughts, wondering if her boyfriend will end up as odd as his uncle is. The family members dodging each other for various reasons, jockeying to spend time with those they CAN deal with.

All of the idiosyncrasies that we all have in our lives, only these are MY family. Like it or not, I’m here to stay, with them, for good or for bad.

Everyone has some issue they deal with whenever family gets together. But we still get together. It’s what family does. We are human, suck it up, learn to forgive, then move on.

Christmas can get too lonely if you don’t.

Stop reading this tripe, go rebuild a relationship, or strengthen one that has been drifting.

And have some eggnog. Like good relationships, there just isn’t enough of it in everyone’s life. Enjoy it while you can.

And enjoy my favorite Christmas song.

Merry Christmas from the Family

We are all a little bit dysfunctional, deal with it, and enjoy the day.

Peace,
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