This is the closest I’m getting to a Christmas letter, dear readers. Enjoy it while it lasts.

The kids have decided they need editorial control of my blog. My fiction is my own, but any “cute” little stories about the children now need to be run by… the children. This is a stupid rule. If I could, I would tell you…

All about how my son sleeps with his head entirely under the covers when he’s exhausted. And how his dad has the same kooky habit.

The cat? Does the cat want editorial control, too? Too bad! Wacky Cat 3 is a crazeee little kitten. He’s gained some weight since he came to live with us. He loves to find little toys and odd items around the house, bat them into the air, chase them around and land on them, whoooomph. He is a delight. Except when he’s trying to terrorize our grouchy old lady cat, Wacky Cat 1 (she slashes him) or he’s thumping on Wacky Cat 2 (who is a bit scared of him, but can’t stand to be away from him. Do you have anyone you feel like that about?)…

I might tell you, if I could, how a certain daughter went a little wacky at church yesterday. Her friends got to race around (during the service) disrupting everyone and having a swell time? Why couldn’t she? Fidget, fidget, twitch. Fidget, fidget, crumple paper. The minister told a good story about a rabbi who visited some monks, told them one of them was the Messiah. Fidget, fidget, melt-down. “Can we please skip coffee hour?” Sure.

“What did you get out of that service, hon? Anything?”

“Yes. Not really. Something about rabbits and monkeys?”

Merry Christmas and Happy Year of the Rat.

“A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find. People born in an Earth Rat are said to be logical realists, shrewd, charming, ambitious, and inventive. Of course, the entire horoscope must be considered when making any personality assessment.”

I’m a Dragon. Surprise. You?

WM