The Still of Christmas Night

I got home from my trip on Christmas night - as Mabel has already shared. After spending some quality "rug time" with my girl, I leashed her up for a neighborhood walk.

It was brisk night and getting kind of late - almost nine - and the neighborhood was unusually quiet. But as we strolled past the houses, inside the warmly lit windows you could see all kinds of holiday happenings:

• A drowsy little girl sitting in her grandpa's lap, reading a story.
• Families gathered around the table, laughing.
• A family playing charades.
  
• A group of people outside barbecuing steaks, steam billowing off the hot grill.
  
• A couple un-decorating their tree.
  
• A man and his children helping his parents load their car for the trip home amongst whispered thank yous, goodbyes and hugs.
  
• A group of smokers, standing on their porch, caroling to their non-smoking family on the other side of the window. The non-smokers would carol back louder and then the smokers would answer back, laughing all the time.
  

Originally, I thought I would be so sad to be home, especially once I learned none of my California adopted family could pick me up at the airport on Christmas afternoon. I was feeling very out of sorts when it took me almost three hours to make the ten minute trip home by shuttle van.

But a little quiet time with my pup and knowing that some families are actually happy at Christmas was a really nice homecoming present.