Christmases, past and present

The holidays can be stressful as well as a joy...and a time for feeling loss as well as joy.

Being with family and friends lends a warm glow to the day, even as the threat of indigestion from overeating occasionally manifests itself.

And yet the memories of loved ones who are no longer with us---who live only in our memories---makes the season bittersweet as well, lending a taste of just how fleeting life can be (as well as a reason for grasping joy and love while it lingers around us, rather than waiting until the end). It is, perhaps, most keenly felt among those who, in the past, have lost loved ones during the holiday season.

And yet seeing the glee in a child's face on Christmas morning can make anyone feel young again. This, then, is truly the magic of Christmas.