As I showered, I thought about my mother, but it honestly wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Having the Christmas Eve Party the night before really helped. Before when Mom was alive, we always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve and then Santa Claus came on Christmas morning. But now that I was older, it worked out better this way. I think the key was starting new traditions. We would never forget my mother, of course, but it made the holidays much more bearable.
After my shower, I quickly dressed in my jeans, a T-shirt, and a long, lightweight sweater. and then hurried down the stairs and into the living room. My father was still sleeping, so I turned the lights on the tree, and started a fire in the fireplace. Soon, warmth filled the room, and I lay down on the couch to enjoy watching the lights and the fire dance over the logs. Then I had an idea and went to the kitchen.
