The Happy Holidays

At some point in our Christmas vacation, it dawned on Chuckles that he had not been at school for quite some time. And so, one day, he turned to Paul and asked: how long will the happy holidays last for, daddy? So we began to refer to the break as "the happy holidays".

Christmas was different this year. My parents were off burning up Air Miles in New Zealand, visiting my step-brother and family, and my other little brother was hosting his Mexican inlaws in Ottawa. At first I felt a bit blue about our downsized-for-the-holidays family. But then a few unexpected things happened, and some lovely moments made their way into our lives. My step-sister's family got sick, so instead we welcomed our neighbour, whose wife died last year, over for a lovely Christmas Eve meal. Then, our friends invited all six of us (!) over for a spectacular Christmas Day feast, our only turkey of the season. It was a wonderful night as 14 of us gathered around the table. Boxing Day in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Then a road trip to Toronto, for a gathering of the remainder of my Ontario siblings. A huge, candlelit table, lots of spontaneous singing, meat, and lots of it, and cousin fun (except, perhaps for my failed gift exchange game).

We really got into the rhythm of slow mornings, second cups of coffee, and lots of lounging.

And you're right, Chuckles, these were the happy holidays.

 Scattering reindeer food on Christmas Eve

Skating rink man