,,BR++ ,,HOME ,,! ,,*RI/MAS ,,TREE 0,M>C ,MAUR] ,M>C ,MAUR] IS A HUSB& &A "F4 ,HE IS AN ATTORNEY4 ,HE IS AL BL4 ,HE IS A MAN ( DET]M9,N1 S5SITIV;Y1 9TEGR;Y1 & HOPE4 ,I AM GLAD HE IS ALL ( ^! ?+S1 = HE IS AL ,PRESID5T (! ,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL4 ,6A GRT EXT5T ! WELL-2+ ( FUTURE G5],NS ( BL P DEP5DS ^U ! ,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL &! P]SONAL QUALITIES ( XS L1D]%IP4 ,) ,M>C ,MAUR] L1D+ ! ORGANIZ,N ,I AM 3T5T 6H X S4 ,R1D 8,BR++ ,HOME ! ,*RI/MAS ,TREE10 & ,I ?9K Y'LL AGREE ) ME4 ,*RI/MAS 0 = ME ! MO/ WOND];L HOLI"D (! YE> :5 ,I 0 A BOY4 ,"! 7 _M SMALL SURPRISES & M* HAPPI;S4 ,?ANKSGIV+ 0 MEMORA# 2C ,I 0 A# 6-E HOME F ! S*OOL =! BL : ,I ATT5D$ =! F/ FIVE YE>S ( GRADE S*OOL 6BE ) MY FAMILY4 ,"! 0 ALW AN ENORM\S BASKET ( FRE% FRUIT Z WELL Z A HUGE B[L ( NUTS 6BE CRACK$ & EAT54 ,B ! BE/ "P AB ,?ANKSGIV+ 0 T X SIGNIFI$ ! 2G9N+ (! ,*RI/MAS S1SON4 ,2F ,?ANKSGIV+1 X 0 SIMPLY AUTUMN4 ,AF ,?ANKSGIV+1 ,*RI/MAS 0 ON XS WAY4 ,MY ,*RI/MAS PRO#M 0 6F9D A WAY 6OBTA9 SUITA# GIFTS = MY FAMILY & FRS4 ,MY ALL[.E8! WEEKLY GRANT F MY "F8J 0 N L>GE 5 6MEET ALL (! DEM&S4 ,:5 ,I 0 SMALL1 X 0 A NICKEL4 ,0! "T ,I _H R1*$ HI< S*OOL1 X _H GR[N 6! GR& SUM (A DOLL>4 ,:5 ,I 0 9 ! N9? GRADE 7OR MAYBE X 0 ! T5?71 ,I P]SUAD$ ! NEWSPAP] 6PUT ME ON Z ! ONLY BL PAP] BOY 9 T[N4 ,E MORN+8ALL ?REE HUNDR$ SIXTY-FIVE "DS (! YE>8,I ROSE AT FIVE O'C 6COLLECT MY PAP]S1 DELIV] !M1 & WALK HOME4 ,! 4T.E COV]$ 9 ! R.D TRIP 0 A LL OV] TWO MILES4 ,I LIK$ ! WALK8ESPECI,Y 9 ! MID/ (A SN[ /ORM4 ,:5 ! W9D 0 BL[+1 &! SN[ 0 FALL+1 ,I FELT HUM#4 ,X SEEM$ 6ME T ,GOD 0 REM9D+ U T ,HE _H CR1T$ ! _W & "EY?+ 9 X4 ,! PAP] R\TE BR"\ 9 A LL EXTRA M"OY8Z ,I REMEMB] X1 2T F\R & FIVE DOLL>S A WEEK4 ,! 9CR1SE 9 MY F9ANCIAL WELL-2+ SEEM$ DRAMATIC4 ,DUR+ ! SUMM]S ,I CD M[ LAWNS OR D O!R ODD JOBS4 ,"O "T ,I 0 HIR$ AT A DOLL> AN H\R 6RO( A G>AGE4 ,! "W 0 -PLET$ 9 TW5TY-N9E H\RS4 ,B ^! SUMM]"T ACTIVITIES DIDN'T HELP AT ,*RI/MAS4 ,X 0 ALL "R 62G9 ?9K+ AB ,*RI/MAS ! "D AF ,?ANKSGIV+4 ,H["E1 PLANN+ =! MO/ IMPORTANT HOLI"D (! YE> 2F ! S1SON >RIV$ 0 \ (! "Q4 ,9 MY HOME T[N ,*RI/MAS DECOR,NS 7 HUNG 9 ! /REETS 2F ,?ANKSGIV+1 B \R FAMILY IGNOR$ !M UNTIL ! PROP] "T4 ,! ,*RI/MAS S1SON 0 SPECIAL & _H 6BE SAV$ UNTIL US+ X 0 APPROPRIATE4 ,? M1NT T ,I CD N PUR*ASE ,*RI/MAS PRES5TS 2F ,?ANKSGIV+4 ,"!=E1 ,I _H AVAILA# ONLY ^? RES\RCES : CD 2 MU/]$ 2T ,?ANKSGIV+ & ,*RI/MAS4 ,"S"TS ! M"OY RAN \4 ,N"E!.S1 GIFTS M/ 2 PROCUR$4 ,B1 BUY+ !M 0 N ESS5TIAL4 ,!Y CD 2 MANUFACTUR$1 & "S"TS !Y W]E4 ,"O YE> ,I FA%ION$ A WOOD5 RIFLE = "O ( MY BRO!RS4 ,ANO!R "T ,I BAK$ HOMEMADE ,*RI/MAS ROLLS =A FR >.D ! CORN]4 ,BR1D MAK+ 0 A SKILL ,I ACQUIR$ E>LY4 ,& ,I 0 N ! ONLY "O 9 MY FAMILY :O TURN$ LOV+LY 6H&ICRAFTS =! ,*RI/MAS S1SON4 ,"O ( MY MO/ TR1SUR$ ,*RI/MAS PRES5TS 0 A H&-MADE WOOD5 DESK DESIGN$ & BUILT 0MY "F4 ,I US$ X = ALM T5 YE>S4 ,"P (! DELIRIV$ ) 3T5TS T M/ REMA9 SECRET UNTIL ! GRT "D2 PLATES ( GDIES 7 PRES5T$ T _H BE5 MADE 9 A KIT*5 ^: CU/OMS 7 N ! SAME Z \R [N4 ,! COOKIES & CAKES 7 N ! SAME Z ! FAMILI> /&BYS ,I _H -E 6"K S WELL1 & "S ( !M 7 EXTRAORD9>ILY GD4 ,I 0 ! SECOND ( SIX *N &! ONLY MEMB] (! FAMILY :O 0 BL4 ,MY SI/] & MY F\R BRO!RS ATT5D$ S*OOL 9 \R HOME T[N4 ,F ! "T ,I 0 SIX YE>S OLD UNTIL ,I 0 ELEV51 ,I ATT5D$ ! S*OOL =! BL4 ,AT ,*RI/MAS = TWO WEEKS8OR A LL M8WE :O 7 /UD5TS WD SAY GDBYE 6! R\T9E AT ? RESID5TIAL S*OOL4 ,AT ! S*OOL =! BL ! WAKE-UP BELL RANG AT #F3CJ 9 ! MORN+4 ,0#F3EE WE 7 EXPECT$ 6BE DRESS$ ) \R FACES WA%$ & \R TEE? BRU%$4 ,AT T "T1 WE L9$ UP 6M>* F ! DORMITORY 6! D9+ HALL = BR1KFA/4 ,BR1KFA/ 2GAN AT #G3JJ & LA/$ HALF AN H\R4 ,2T #G3CJ & #H3JJ1 WE 7 EXPECT$ 6CL1N \R ROOMS & MAKE \R B$S4 ,MY ROOMMATE & ,I DIVID$ UP ! CL1N+ *ORES4 ,I DU/$ ! FURNITURE :ILE HE DU/$ ! FLOOR4 ,CLASSES 2GAN AT #H3JJ & 3T9U$ UNTIL NOON4 ,WE M>*$ 9 L9E 6LUN*1 : AL LA/$ HALF AN H\R4 ,AF LUN* WE 7 FREE 6PLAY ON ! PLAYGR.D =A FEW M9UTES4 ,CLASSES 9 ! AFN />T$ AT #A3JJ & F9I%$ AT #D3JJ4 ,"O P]IOD EA* "D 0 DEVOT$ 6GYM CLASS4 ,AF ! #D3JJ O'C ADJ\RN;T ( CLASSES WE 7 FREE 6PLAY UNTIL WE M>*$ 6! D9+ HALL AT #E3BE4 ,AF SUPP] "! 0 AN H\R ( M&ATORY /UDY HALL4 ,!N = AN H\R WE CD R1D OR PLAY OR D Z WE PL1S$4 ,0#H3CJ ALL /UD5TS 7 SUPPOS$ 6BE 9 _! ROOMS1 & AT #H3DE ! BELL RANG = LI40 ,SNACK B> 0 ! "N =! /UD5T-RUN /ORE4 ,AT ! SNACK B> WE CD BUY C&Y B>S1 ICE CR1M B>S1 &A LIMIT$ SELEC;N ( P5NY C&Y4 ,A PREPACKAG$ ICE CR1M C"O T _H BE5 DIPP$ 9 *OCOLATE & NUTS 7WE CALL$ X A DRUM/ICK7 CO/ FIFTE5 C5TS4 ,I DIDN'T H FIFTE5 C5TS V (T51 S MY VISITS 6! SNACK B> 7 9FREQU5T4 ,ON ,SATUR"D ! S*$ULE = M1LS 0 ! SAME Z X 0 = ! RE/ (! WEEK1 B AF \R ROOMS _H BE5 CL1N$ & \R %OES 7 POLI%$1 ! REMA9D] (! "D 0 FREE4 ,ON ,SUN"D WE 7 EXPECT$ 6DRESS 9 \R ,SUN"D CLO!S1 & WE 7 !N S5T 6*UR*4 ,:5 ! ,*RI/MAS HOLI"DS CAME1 ALL ( ? *ANG$4 ,AT HOME "! 0 NO S*$UL$ "T 6WAKE UP1 NO PRE-SET MO;T = BR1KFA/1 NO R\T9E = DU/+ ! FURNITURE & MAK+ ! B$4 ,FUR!RMORE1 "! 7 FAMILY MEMB]S 6PLAY )1 & "! 7 ! EXCIT+ & MY/]I\S ,*RI/MAS ACTIVITIES4 ,9 ! KIT*5 "! 7 HOMEMADE COOKIES & C&IES4 ,! >OMA ( V>NI% & WOOD %AV+S EMANAT$ F MY ,DAD'S %OP 9 ! BASE;T4 ,"! 7 USU,Y SEW+ & KNITT+ PROJECTS T _H 6BE F9I%$ LATE AT NIE %ORT 9 ,DECEMB]1 & 9 ! MIDWE/1 ": ,I GREW UP1 !Y >E (T5 SN[Y & COLD4 ,:5 S*OOL 0 \1 WE WD TRAMP ! FIELDS & WOODS >.D \R T[N & F9D PLACES 6USE ! TOBO7AN T \R P>5TS GAVE U "O ,*RI/MAS4 ,! COLD FELT GD1 ESPECI,Y AT ! 5D (! "D :5 WE GOT HOME 6SIT 0! FIRE4 ,&! PUNG5T >OMA ( CLOVE & C9NAMON T CAME DRIFT+ F ! KIT*5 0 A M\?-WAT]+ PROMISE (! CAKES1 ! PIES1 OR ! C9NAMON ROLLS T CD 2 F.D "!4 ,"O ,*RI/MAS ,I R1D A /ORY AB ! ,YULE ,LOG8! L>GE *UNK ( TIMB] : 9 ,5GLI% LEG5D IS TRADI;N,Y SET ABLAZE ON ,*RI/MAS ,EVE 69ITIATE FE/IVITIES =! CELEBR,N (! HOLI"D4 ,I DECID$ 6CUT S* A LOG4 ,) AN OLD H&SAW WE F.D1 ,I SET \ 6BR+ HOME ! L>GE/ PIECE (A TREE T WD FIT 9 ! FIREPLACE4 ,I M1SUR$ ! OP5+ )A PIECE ( /ICK & M>K$ ! L5G? 0CUTT+ A NICK )! $GE ( MY KNIFE4 ,! SAW 0 OLD & DULL2 ! LOG 0 H1VY1 ?ICK1 & DAMP4 ,X SEEM$ 6ME T ! JOB ( CUTT+ X WD TAKE ="E4 ,:5 ! CUT 0 F9,Y -PLETE1 ,I HEFT$ MY PRIZE & DRA7$ X HOME4 ,I ROLL$ X 96! FIREPLACE & /U6$ Z M* K9DL+ >.D X Z ,I CD CRAM 96! OP5+4 ,\R ,YULE ,LOG BURN$ = _M H\RS & BR"\ W>M? & *E]I;S 6! HE>?4 ,!N "! 0 ! ,*RI/MAS TREE4 ,9 \R FAMILY WE ALL W5T TGR 6GET ! TREE4 ,WE WD PILE 96! OLD #AIED ,PLYM\? 6G HUNT+ 9 ! ,*RI/MAS TREE LOTS = J ! "R "O4 ,! V>I\S MEMB]S (! FAMILY _H DI6]5T OBJECTIVES4 ,DAD WANT$ ! TREE 6BE *1P8AF=DA# IF Y WANT ! POLITE ^W4 ,MOM WANT$ X 6BE FULL & PRETTY4 ,WE KIDS WANT$ X 6BE BIG4 ,:5 WE >RIV$ AT ! ,*RI/MAS TREE LOT1 ! KIDS WD SPR1D \ 9 ALL DIREC;NS1 HUNT+ "? ! TREES4 ,E FEW SECONDS "SBODY WD YELL T ! P]FECT SPECIM5 _H BE5 LOCAT$4 ,! :OLE FAMILY WD -E 6ADMIRE X1 & ,I WD 2 ASK$ 6EXAM9E X ) MY H&S 6SEE :AT ,I ?"\4 ,! SPRUCE TREES 7 MY FAVORITE1 ! "OS )! LL %ORT NE$LES &! TE5Y LL P9E C"OS4 ,:5 ! BE/ (! TREES _H BE5 4COV]$1 ! PRICE NEGOTI,NS 2GAN4 ,? 0 MY "F'S RESPONSIBIL;Y4 ,A GD TREE 0 "O T _H PL5TY ( BRAN*ES1 NO HOLES1 A HEIE SPOTS1 &A NICE ,*RI/MAS TREE %APE4 ,S* A TREE 0 A3EPTA#1 B X CD 2 MADE M* BETT] IF MY "F GOT A 8D1L40 ,IF ! ASK+ PRICE =! TREE CD 2 REDUC$ 0A ?IRD OR A HALF1 \R ,*RI/MAS TREE 0 "O (! BE/4 ,WE WD CLIMB BACK 96! OLD ,PLYM\? & L1N \ ! W9D[S S ,DAD CD H& U ! PRIZ$ POSSES.N4 ,WE WD DRIVE HOME SL[LY1 FREEZ+ \R H&S & E>S CLUT*+ TI4 ,) F\R OR FIVE ( U GRASP+ ! TRUNK1 ! BRAN*ES (! TREE FILL$ ! W9D[S ON ! DRIV]'S SIDE (! C>4 ,X WASN'T EASY 6SEE ON \R SIDE1 S WE HONK$ ! HORN A LOT AT 9T]SEC;NS ON ! WAY HOME4 ,:5 WE >RIV$ HOME1 X 0 MY "F'S JOB 6SET UP ! TREE4 ,2C (A NUMB] ( 4A/]S 7"! IS A "PICUL>LY UN=TUNATE ,*RI/MAS MORN+ T ,I REMEMB] :5 ! TREE FELL OV] 9 ! MI4LE (A NUMB] ( PACKAGES7 X 2CAME ! CU/OM 9 \R H\SE 6AN*OR ! TREE )A CORD 6AT L1/ TWO SEP>ATE BRACKETS ON ! WALL4 ,!N X 0 "T 6DECORATE4 ,? 0 ,MOM'S SPECIAL >EA ( 9T]E/ & TAL5T4 ,%E DIRECT$ ALL ( U 9 ! PROCESS & A4$ ! F9I%+ T\*ES H]F4 ,:5 ! BALLS 7 HUNG1 ! T9SEL METICUL\SLY >RANG$1 &! LIS1 X IS CLE> 6ME T MY BL;S 0 N A MAJOR 9GR$I5T4 ,*RI/MAS MEMORIES REM9D ME ( HOME &( FAMILY MEMB]S :O C>E = "O ANO!R4 ,G5TLE;S1 ADMIR,N1 HOPE1 & FAI?8( S* Z ^! >E MEMORA# ,*RI/MASES MADE4 ,I DID N "K1 :5 ,I 0 A /UD5T AT ! S*OOL =! BL1 :AT MY [N LIFE CD BR+4 ,H["E1 Z ,I PREP>E = ,*RI/MAS ? YE>1 ,I AM REM9D$ ( ^? JOY;L EXP]I;ES ( L;G AGO4 ,I N[ H A FAMILY ( MY [N4 ,"O (! IMPORTANT C]EMONIES 9 \R H\SEHOLD IS ! PROCURE;T (! ,*RI/MAS TREE4 ,MY SON ,DAVID 7A ?IRD-GRAD]7 ASK$ ME 6HELP HM BUILD A ,*RI/MAS PRES5T = 8 ,MOM4 ,TGR WE >E CUTT+ ! WOOD & FITT+ ! PIECES4 ,! /A9+ & F9I%+ M/ 2 A3OMPLI%$ 2F ! FE/IVE "D4 ,! >OMA ( V>NI% W M+LE ? YE> )! SMELLS ( C9NAMON & *OCOLATE Z WE PREP>E =! GIV+ ( GIFTS4 ,P]H ! JOY (! S1SON IS EV5 GRT] 2C "! 7 _M "TS :5 ,I WOND]$ IF X WD 2 AVAILA# 6ME4 ,C BL P H GD JOBS & RAISE FAMILIES8 ,^! >E "QS : -E 9EVITABLY 6! M9D (A BL /UD5T GR[+ UP4 ,!Y DEM& ANSW]S1 B 9=M,N IS SC>CE1 & "S"TS ! MESSAGES >E 4C\RAG+4 ,:5 ,I CAME 6BE A "P (! ,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL 9 #AIFI1 ,I MET C>+ P :O 7 WILL+ 6GIVE ME ! B5EFIT ( _! K & EXP]I;E4 ,I MET ^? :O _H HOPE & FAI?4 ,I CAME 6BE A "P ( AN ORGANIZ,N ( 9DIVIDUALS :O C>$ = "O ANO!R4 ,! RESPONSIVE;S1 ! SUPPORT1 ! W>M?1 &! C>+ ,I F.D 9 ! ,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL >E REM9ISC5T (! G5TLE;S1 ! FAI?1 &! HOPE ,I _H -E 6ASSOCIATE )! ,*RI/MAS S1SON4 ,I H "KN ! -MIT;T (! ,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL = ALM A QU>T] (A C5TURY4 ,9 T "T _M ?\S&S ( BL P H BE5 GIV5 5C\RAGE;T & SUPPORT4 ,_M ,YULE ,LOGS H BE5 CUT1 & _M TREES DECORAT$4 ,A NUMB] ( BL *N H -E 6BE BL ADULTS ) *N ( _! [N4 ,! BL;S1 : MIM1 HE>TY1 HOPE;L CELEBR,NS4 ,WE >E PLANN+ = _M M4