It's Christmas Eve, and I'm at my parents' house with my family.  My 14-year old told me yesterday that it wouldn't feel like Christmas unless he was at his grandparents' house.  I thought that was sweet, and it reminded me how Christmas traditions become ingrained.

My wife and I, for example, always watch a few Christmas movies to get us into the season.  She's a big Christmas advocate, and so am I.  My favorite is Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in Holiday Inn, but I also like While You Were Sleeping and The Muppet's Christmas Carol.

Today we'll do a bit of last-minute shopping, wrap a few presents, and then toast in the holiday at the end of the evening around my dad's fireplace.

I hope all of you have wonderful holidays with friends and family.

Here's my Christmas gift to you, one of my favorite Christmas stories.  I have about ten of these which I ought to gather together sometime.  Maybe next year.  Merry Christmas, and here is the story.