Christmas Spirit

The Christmas spirit.  Got it?  Since Thanksgiving I've listened more and more frequently to the all Christmas, all the time radio station.  Chipmunks, Mariah Carey, Bing Crosby, all the favorites.  And then Band-Aid comes on singing Do They Know It's Christmas with the lyric "tonight thank God it's them, instead of you."

And I cry.  Every time.

Because while I live a simple life, and I don't have fancy things, I do have the most important things.

I have Oskar, showing some graying on his muzzle but still exhilarated every morning when I open the door and he can race into the world.  And I have friends who send wonderful, loving holiday cards.

I have Abe, my cuddly old boy.  He wakens me each morning (if 5:00 am is morning to you!) with a pat on the cheek.

We have cookies in the oven.  And lots of cookies on the counter, waiting for a party.

I have Luke, the thinker, who considers me his right-hand girl.  He tells me when, I pour the kibble.  It works for us.

We have heat that works.  Our old house is not toasty, but we are comfortable.

And I have Ulani, aka Stinky Emilio.  Life is never dull with an active girl scheming out her next escapade.

So when I hear the song talking about people starving, with no water, and it says "tonight thank God it's them, instead of you", I do. 

I live a simple life, but I have all the important things.  And in the Christmas spirit, I hope you do, too.