Some time last night, my wife and I had resolved that we would hold Christmas late. A dear family member was going to be delayed most of a week, and on top of that an important gift had not arrived. New Years Eve would be a fine day to celebrate Christmas, we thought; after all, she would be home that day, and so could everyone else.

The gift arrived in today’s mail; then the family member called to announce he needed a ride.

Of course, just because it’s Christmas Eve does not mean that the ordinary Monday work vanishes. My mother-in-law still needed groceries, for example. I have been running hither and yon for most of the afternoon, and I still have to help with the Christmas tree (although with the boys mostly grown, it’s a lot simpler). I’m trying to squeeze everything in, including the wrapping of presents which weren’t going to be opened for another week on the original plan, and snack food for the decorators tonight.

I am tempted to bypass the forums tonight; but a dear old friend has now posted his equipment post and is ready to start play, so I’ve promised myself I won’t keep him waiting (even though he didn’t really expect me to post on Christmas Eve).

Bedlam, incidentally, is the name of one of the earliest insane asylums in England. I know that, because a friend of mine from high school–interestingly, a drummer–plays in a band that does Ren Faires (it’s also a juggling act, called Double Indemnity), and they do a song called Bedlam Boys, in which the female vocalist sings that the boys from Bedlam are just the sort of boys a girl wants: the sort that are uninhibited. It’s a pretty funny song.

I’ve this feeling I’m forgetting something, but for now, forget it.

Happy Christmas to all.

–M. J. Young