silensy

When you see this, quote Leo McGarry

"This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out.

"A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?' The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on.

"Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on

"Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'"

I have a huge and wonderfully close family but more than that, I truly believe that we live in an era when it really is about the family we make for ourselves. The people that we choose, the ones who come through, the ones we call in the middle of the night.

This year has been hard. It's been the next thing to impossible. Christmas shopping is a constant reminder that there's one less gift to buy. I see so many things that would be perfect for Victoria and it's always just a few seconds before I remember why I don't have anything for her yet.

I don't have any nutshell revelations to follow that up. My feelings are still messy and unresolved. There's no movie-style inspiring narrative that results or even a Hallmark 'go hug your family'.

I'm grateful for the family I have - the one I was born to and the one I've been fortunate enough to build. That's got to be enough.

Merry Christmas, for those who celebrate. Love and Peace to you all.