A Christmas story from Michael Haz

Michael Haz said.......

What a beautiful morning! It's sunny, clear and bright where I am. No snow yet, that's unusual, but the day is simply extraordinary, the way Christmas Day should be.

Our Christmas celebrations are over, it will just be the two of us at home today. Christmas isn't usually like that, but we are basking in the joy of the pending birth of our first grandchild, due to arrive later today, or perhaps tomorrow. We'll see.Mer

We're both a little sore today, happily so. We skated in our family's long-traditional Christmas Eve Day ice hockey game yesterday afternoon. There were dozens of family, extended family and other friends on the ice. Count 'em up, divide by two, and there's your teams.

It looked like maybe twenty skaters per team, all on the ice at the same time. There were little kids who were in their league uniforms, high-schoolers, college kind home on vacation, and the rest of us. The rec league players beat the heck out of each other, but were pretty gentle with everyone else.

The game was followed by pot-luck chili, joking, photos, and exchanging gifts with those we won't see today.

Then home for a nap and a half bottle of Advil.

We went to midnight Mass in a old, beautiful church downtown. It was said in Latin, like in the olden days (and the way is should always be said, in my opinion). The choir was strong, the homily magnificent. We were home by 2:00 AM, had a glass of wine and at long last fell asleep.

This morning is quiet. Mary is still asleep and I'm taking time to reflect on the Day, the year, and the value of good friends.

I wish all of you a very blessed and Merry Christmas. May our Lord continue to hold your soul and the souls of those you love safe in his merciful heart.