christmas anywhere?

[piperdbh]

If you leave right now, Ern, you could be here by midnight-thirty. I'll be waiting for you.

[sailortats]

fruitcake???????? can I come to, please

[piperdbh]

You have a little farther to travel than Ern, but sure, come on. Would you mind picking up some coffee on your way? I'm almost out.

[O'Searcaigh]

"There's no place like home for the holidays" -- more than a line from a song to me!

[JLeòdhas]

A castle in Scotland would be fine with me.

[Duke of Delrio]

Christmas sees me at the home ranch every year. There is no telling how many of the family will show up, as the homing urge strikes everyone at different times. Years ago, a young nephew who had heard from some of the "older guys" that Santa wasn't real, asked me in great confidence if that were true. I told him that I was personally acquainted with the man and had been for years. I explained how tired the reindeer would be after their world-wide flight, and that Santa would stop here. We would put fresh hay out for them in the bull feeders, and then Santa and I would drink hot chocolate and play pinochle while the reindeer ate and rested.

Early in dawn's light of Christmas morning my nephew was running to the house, shouting, "It's true . . . .it's true", at the top of his lungs. There at the feeders were a number of large, antlered mule deer, which in the fog and dim light, looked very much like eight reindeer . . . to a six year old. I will never forget the sheer exuberant joy I heard in his voice that morning. For me, Christmas anywhere else just would not have that ring to it.

[Laird_M]

Its great when kids are young enough, and not jaded yet, to be innocent enough to still believe. The first Xmas with my wife and our eldest I was closetted in the attic for a couple of weeks making him a wooden train set (Thomas the Tank engine) and Xmas morning he came down to find it in the living room with complete with footprints, and empty milk glass and cookie crumbs. The wide eyed joy on his face is something I'll treasure for eternity...
Its moments like that that make all the grief your kids give you over the years fade into insignificance.

[tulloch]

Well, my first choice is at home with my feet up. A very close second would be in Glasgow with friends at the Ben Nevis. I have to confess that the festive atmosphere there is wonderful.