Christmas without snow

The sun is shining and the outdoor temperature is a warm 51 degrees F; unseasonable weather and temperatures for this time of year. For Christmas and for Santa to come on his sleigh, we expect snow with winds to cause drifts that block roadways and other transportation. The lack of snow during the Christmas holidays was a source of disappointment for us as Marcus did not have a chance to play in it, although he did bring his snow suit outfit. In the larger picture, the warm weather means that there is less (23% less) natural gas and heating oil burned impacting the supply/demand of these items. Also, the presumptive cause of global warming, ie, hydrocarbon emmisions causing a Green House effect, is lessened by burning less hydrocarbons. On the other hand, if, global warming is due to the "heat sink" effect, something that I made up, then the continued growth of the human population with more roads, houses, parking lots, cities, and other things that absorb heat from the sun and releases that heat much more slowly than a forest or grassey plains. One would expect that the heat sink effect would result in an overall elevation in ambient temperature, then these nice sunny days will mean a parallel increase in global warming with the expansion of the population. In any case, Marcus, mom and dad got off for their flight home this early morning enshrouded in fog, most suitable for Rudolph's Red Nose guidance. They left our holiday house echoing his laughter, the smells of baking bread and cooking turkey. He learned how to play with Christmas wrapping paper tubes, a wooden bus from the Store of 10,000 Villages peopled with RJ, Marcus, Nana, Rhythm, Grandpa and Grandma K. There were preschool and daycare chums aboard as well. He hammered on Bob the Builder's work bench, laughed and radiated excitement and joy, infectious attributes that makes the season bright. Now's the time for reflection and getting our affairs in order, in preparation for the New Year and the mysteries it will bring. The Christmas presents given and received remind us of our connection with one another as we touch, wear, and use each one. In my own case, "these are the slipper sox from Bec", etc. And so, even though we are far apart by distance, we remain close to one another as each item embodies the memory of the person who gave the gift. And if the item is lost or worn through over time, we can say to the giving person an accounting of what happened to the item, as the memory it embodied remains with ourselves. Indeed, the Holiday Spirit.