Happy Christmas Memory

Our stockings were hung by the chimney with care. The tree was decorated, the cookies were baked and we were ready for a tranquil Christmas evening visit with friends. Our kids were grown so the hustle-bustle of Christmases when the children were young was in the past.

The house was aglow with tiny lights on the tree, the mantle and the wreaths. The world was white, cold and icy outside. Suddenly the power went out and all was dark.

But no worries. We just lit all our Christmas candles--candles on the mantle, the tables and kitchen counter--candles in our windows.

Our friends drove up our dark street and were heartened to see the candles in our windows. They arrived at the door with a big pot of hot soup and fresh rolls and were astonished to see how beautiful our house looked in the flickering candle-light.

We sat, ate, reminisced and laughed without electricity for over an hour. It was peaceful and joyful, just as Christmas should be. I forgot about the dirty carpet and the worn furniture. Everything looked shiny and new. We all looked younger and happier in the candle-light.

Then the power came on and we were all disappointed! So we turned the lights off again and continued our revelry.

It was one of the best Christmas Eves ever. Try it.

(P.S. Don't miss my post on London Museums which I wrote on December 1, but didn't post until today. Scroll down, it is before Observations and Impressions.)