New Year's Eve chez nous will be celebrated with The Brother and his lovely wife at a fish restaurant our family has patronized for something like 30 years. Himself will join us when he has completed the Resolution Run, an annual 10-km foot race that he will walk (as fast as he can) for the benefit of his wonky back. OC Transpo, our esteemed public transit system, offers free rides on New Year's Eve to keep the drinkers out from behind the wheel, so the First Foot will arrive at our house on the Number 1 bus.

Himself will retire from the Canadian Army in March, and soon after we will leave Ottawa for sunny Stratford, the seat and beating heart of Perth County, Ontario. So this is our last holiday season in Ottawa as we approach the end of a 20-year groove of family routine. Just as many of our contemporaries are contemplating a gradual letting go of responsibilities as they age, we are looking forward to Himself starting up a criminal law practice in a small town with almost no military presence. That's about as different from our current situation as we can get without actually leaving the legal profession or the province of Ontario.

I keep wondering about silly things: Where am I going to buy cheese and fish? Who speaks French in Stratford? Will we find a house with enough cupboard space?