The Holidays are upon us do you have any traditions during this time of year?

Dominic and I have a number of holiday traditions and most of them revolve around entertaining.  Our first Christmas together, Dominic and I hosted a Christmas Open House and we continued that through moving twice, including to a new town.  We had that same party, the second Saturday evening in December for 24 years.   We had it rain, shine, snow, and even frigid temperatures.   Dominic cooked amazing food and baked enough to open a cookie store.  It was something special.

Last year was the first year that we had to cancel the party because of Covid.  Dominic was very disappointed, but it couldn’t be avoided.  This year, we are having a party, but very scaled back to just key friends that we have ben seeing through the pandemic.   So, this year, will be our twenty-fifth holiday party and hopefully next year, we can have the party back to full force.

Both Dominic and I hope you all have an amazing holiday season and wish you all a wonderful end of 2021 and a spectacular 2022 to come.

Book Links

Coby whispered.

“Do you want something cold?” Daniel asked, and Coby nodded.

Daniel got him an orange Popsicle to suck on and took the book Coby handed him, then sat next to Coby’s bed to read to him.

“Can I ask you something?” Daniel said as he sat in the chair, book on his lap. Coby nodded, the Popsicle already in his mouth, eyes wide and bright. “Did you see any of the other kids when you were in the hospital?”

Coby pulled out the Popsicle. “Some didn’t have mommies or daddies. I heard the nurses talking sometimes when they thought I was asleep.” He put the Popsicle back in his mouth and slid lower under the covers with a sigh.

Daniel had done his all to make sure that Coby had the best he could give him. Christmases hadn’t been anything like when he was a kid, but he always had something for Coby, and they made the most he could of it. The past few years, gifts had been more abundant, especially now that his parents had decided that they wanted to be part of their lives. Daniel was under no delusions—it was because of their grandson. He and Richard had briefly talked about Christmas and agreed that they wanted something simple. They could still have their gifts, but maybe spending Christmas with kids who had a hell of a lot less than Coby would be good for all of them. A gift they could all give to someone who needed it more than they did.

Daniel opened the book and began reading. Coby listened and finished his cold treat. Daniel took the stick, and Coby sat through the rest of the Goosebumps book before his eyes began to close.

Daniel kissed his son on the forehead and settled him under the covers to fall asleep. Then he left the room, closed the door, and got to work on a project that was due.

Almost as he expected, Gerome, Tucker, Terrance, Ashton, Cheryl, and Joshie all descended on the condo at about the same time.

“How is he?” Gerome asked, handing Daniel a grocery bag filled with ice cream treats.

“What did you do, buy out the store?” He smiled as he went out and put the treats in the chest freezer in the back of the garage area. He barely had enough room to shut the lid after getting all that in. Daniel hugged Gerome and thanked him when he returned inside.

“Where’s Coby?” Joshie asked.

“Sleeping for now. It’s going to take him about a week to heal, and he’ll start acting like himself in a few days.”

“He won’t be sick for Christmas, will he?” Joshie asked. “I wrote to Santa and asked him for presents today, and I asked that he make Coby better.” He sat next to Cheryl, and Daniel got him a grape Popsicle. They were Joshie’s favorite.