Canine Christmas Eve

Man’s – and woman’s – best friend is a dog. And whenever family and friends are invited for dinner, their dogs are too. This year as usual, we all got together to celebrate on Christmas Eve.

Prior to the holidays, I bought a bunch of dog toys as a diversionary tactic for dinner time. I put the toys on the patio coffee table, and one by one, the dogs chose a new toy. My youngster, Jake – half Border collie / half hound – was so excited, he jumped on top of the table to choose his toy. While we ate dinner inside, the dogs played happily in the backyard in the warm and dry SoCal evening.

During dessert, the dogs rejoined us inside, and the gift giving began. My grand-dog, Finn, distributed presents. My son gave Finn small packages and told him who to take them to. (There was only one incident when the wrapping was so exciting that Finn opened it instead of delivering it.)

I received the perfect gift for a writer. When I’m working on a manuscript, ideas materialize spontaneously. Often in the shower. My present was a notebook with “all-weather writing paper that sheds water” (www.RiteintheRain.com). Now I’ll be able to capture those fleeting thoughts at previously inopportune moments.

Wishing you and yours Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year.