W ith New Year's bearing down hard, over the next few days we'll stop and tally what was lost and what gained in the last twelve months. And consider what to do better, or at least differently, in the succeeding twelve.

But Christmas is a day to just reflect on this gift of life we share, not always so well, with those who love us and those who just happen to surround us. And to maybe mutter thanks before we open presents and sit down to a big meal and end the day feeling pretty tired but pretty good about ourselves.

It's Christmas! And on this day, truly we are saved depending, of course, on what we think the definition of "saved" is. Maybe it means nothing more than feeling we're in the right place, connected in time to the generations that preceded us, and who loved us, and to those that now follow us and whose love we strive to earn. Why else go to so much trouble to concoct such a complicated dinner?

And connected to the powers of life we still can't begin to understand. All in all, a day to be at peace, secure in the bosom of our family and dear friends. Because in the end we understand nothing. And probably don't need to.

Christmas morning began, as it should, in church. Actually, it began in bed, but 25 minutes later it was in church. Seven minutes late and alone. No other takers, but still undeterred. Missed the Kyrie, a favorite part.

Then home to cook the fatted Canadian bacon for the family's traditional Christmas brunch of Eggs Benedict, hash browns, asparagus, orange juice and champagne. And seconds of everything. Everything.

It's a crowded apartment. Christmas homecomings are not something the space was built for. Not enough sleeping quarters. JJ compounded matters by inviting a friend from grad school who's working for the paper in Roanoke and had no chance to get home for the holidays. So we made Christmas for him, but he had to sleep on the living room floor.

She's still pretty unusual. In 1998 Cyndi Lauper did a Christmas album entitled Merry Christmas...Have a Nice Life. It was released officially only in Japan. This song was the only single from it. A second version includes a children's choir instead of the Japanese vocals that are in the first version. This live performance is from the 1998 Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting. No one twirls and swirls a dress better.

We have a fireplace, but Mike didn't see Santa. Then again, those guys were bombed when they finally went to bed. Santa could have entered totally ablaze and stayed unnoticed.

Santa treated Mike better than JJ. Most of the boy's presents involved things that will take place outside the apartment or were shipped to Chicago. So that he wouldn't have too much to carry back on the plane. Daddy got a Blu-ray from Tracey and Mom, and from JJ a studio light that clips to his keyboard so he can work in the dark, a state he's become accustomed to.

Of necessity, because June can't adjust to sleeping in bright light in the early morning when dad's insomnia has set in. John's desk is right outside the bedroom door (which can't be closed; cats, you know.) A happy marriage is a series of adjustments. Never-ending adjustments.

Following brunch, a routine check revealed that the turkey was still frozen, in whole or in part. Since Mike had to leave by 8:00 pm to get back to Roanoke and the paper, the very next part of the day was devoted to thawing out the bird.

No Christmas run this year. JJ left his shoes in Chicago. And Dad was just too busy with the turkey. And maybe just a little bit too drunk anyway. End of a long tradition (running, not drinking), but wait til next year. Hell, wait til tomorrow.

Hope the day was just as fun-filled and exciting at your house. Nitey-nite and Merry Christmas to all.