We took the "Denver spruce" tree out of the box and assembled it. We played Christmas music and the kids helped decorate the tree. It looks pretty good! Especially after a few glasses of wine and a full meal. The only thing that’s missing that could make it better is one of those tree shaped, pine scented, air freshners people hang from their rear view mirrors to use as an ornament.
I got a little nastalgic thinking about those smells from the kitchen my mother always created, fogged up windows, and sneeking a peak at the gift tags to see which presents where for me when I thought nobody would notice. On Christmas Eve, my grandfather would sit by the tree and put on his reading glasses. Each one of us would take turns going up and choosing a present for him to read the label out loud and then take it to that person. We would have to sit and wait until the gift was opened before the next person could go and get another one. It would take half the night but we loved it.
I miss our families and friends. It may be in the mid 80’s outside without all the fanfare here but friends are still calling "you who!" and inviting us over for holiday cheer. It’s great to see the traditions that everyone tries to maintain wherever we go. We celebrate Christmas and try to bring all those traditions that we were raised with to our home. And the kids are excited that Santa WILL come to Niamey; snow or shine! And that’s what Christmas is all about.
twenty-something years of "what have you been up to?" 
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