
   ,,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 (! DELI<T (! ,*RI/MAS S1SON 0 T _M
UNUSUAL ?+S O3URR$4 ,VISIT+ NEI<BORS1
FRS1 & RELATIVES CAME UNEXPECT$LY2
MY/]I\S PACKAGES >RIV$ ) 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 =
LI<TS \4
  ,TWO NI<TS A WEEK AT ! S*OOL =! BL "!
7 SPECIAL EV5TS4 ,ON ,W$NES"DS &
,SATUR"DS WE 7 EXPECT$ 6BA!1 & 72F BA?
"T7 WE 7 P]MITT$ 6G 6! BASE;T (!
DORMITORY = 8SNACK B>40 ,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 NI<T
    S !Y WD 2 R1DY = ,*RI/MAS4
  ,! "DS >E %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]$1 !
      PRICE
NEGOTI,NS 2GAN4 ,? 0 MY "F'S
    RESPONSIBIL;Y4 ,A GD TREE 0 "O T _H
    PL5TY ( BRAN*ES1 NO HOLES1 A HEI<T (
    AT L1/ N9E FEET1 NO B>E SPOTS1 &A
    NICE ,*RI/MAS TREE %APE4 ,S* A TREE
    0 A3EPTA#1 B X CD 2 MADE M* BETT] IF
    MY "F GOT A 8D1L40 ,IF ! ASK+ PRICE
    =! TREE CD 2 REDUC$ 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*+ TI<TLY 6! TREE1 :
    WE HELD PRESS$ 6! SIDE (! C>4 ,) 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$1 &! LI<TS LIT1 ! TREE *ANG$ !
    LIV+ ROOM F A NICE PLACE 6BE 6! C5T]
    ( 5*ANT;T4
  ,Z ,I REMEMB] ! ,*RI/MASES ( MY GR[+
      UP YE>S1 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$4 ,A NUMB] ( BL *N H -E 6BE BL
ADULTS ) *N ( _! [N4 ,! BL;S1 : MI<T H
PREV5T$ A FULL LIFE1 0 N P]MITT$
69T]F]E4 ,! ,*RI/MASES = ^? BL P H BE5
W>M1 HE>TY1 HOPE;L CELEBR,NS4 ,WE >E
PLANN+ = _M M4




