A Rum-Pa-Pa-Pum

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So there's Matt's favorite present. A pint of rum that you might see a homeless man sucking on as he sits up against a building in any city in the country.

Ahhhh, college.

I'm not sure just how the present came to be the first thing he opened, or why the hell Santa brought him such a thing, but he is the kid that would never have a drink. Heretofore he has been a responsible kid. I just needed a laugh as the presents were opened (mainly because gift-wrapping being strewn about is an attack to my OCD) and he provided it.

Once more, my beautiful wife did a tremendous job of buying and wrapping each present. The kids were appreciative, thanking her with each one.

"What am I wood?" I asked at one point.

"You just funded it," they said.

But we had a great couple of days of being together and feeling the love that accumulates here through the year.

One of my other favorite lines of the holiday came out, in church, of all places. I reached for Jake's hand to hold during the 'Our Father' at Christmas Eve Mass.

"Would you like to hold my hand?" I asked.

"I'd rather have cancer," he responded.

It's impossible not to think back during the holidays, and I must admit I suffered quite a bit as the holiday approached this year, but love is a nice thing to grab hold of.

Even if the hand is elusive.

It's easy to miss too, if you aren't looking for it.

Another year...

Secure...

Here in the Fazzolari household.

Let's break out the rum.

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