I hate to put a damper on all of the good festivities, but I was grateful for a slimmed down Christmas. I was in the hospital until two days before Christmas, so very little Christmas decorating got done. My brother visited and helped me out. We scrounged up a Christmas dinner of ham, mashed potatoes and green beans. He left in the afternoon and I cried a lot. Both from gladness that he was here and saddness that he had to leave. We did share a bit of wine and egg nog. So, I guess, I'm grateful for what little we did do.

W.E.