Member-only story
Who knew holiday woodworking could be so unexpectedly fun — even downright hilarious?
The Christmas that is just now in our rear-view mirror (or simply “rear view” as it will probably become in family legend) turned out to be one of our best, with gifts a-plenty, great food, the joy of two grandchildren, and the warm and laughter-filled company of young and old alike. We are particularly blessed to have in-law relationships that are not stereotypical slug fests of tempers, tantrums, or awkward silences and teary attitudes.
We are one nuclear family even though we are spread out across the country and around the globe — from Erie, PA, to Alexandria, VA, to Raleigh, NC, to Bungendore, NSW Australia. For my part, I was a very happy camper, thoroughly enjoying my status as the elder of the clan — not a stodgy, grump of a grandpa, but an exuberant advocate for a full-on Joyeux Noël celebration as most of us (absent the Aussies, with whom we stayed in touch via video phone calls) gathered at our youngest daughter’s house just outside Raleigh.
I have to admit that one reason I was my right jolly old self was the weight loss I’ve been working on for the past three months. This Christmas, I was more than 40 lbs. lighter than I’d been the year before, and with that decrease in mass came an increase in participation in…
