[CAUT] Christmas Eve

[James Ellis]

Here's a Christmas greeting for the lighter side:

We traditionally have all the kids in for a Christmas eve get-together.
That includes the kids, grand-kids, great grand-kids, and another one on
the way.)  It's a time for family togetherness - very important, we think.

It was time for our folks to start arriving.  Just as I went out on the
porch to get another log for the fireplace, a new red Durango SUV pulled up
in the driveway.  I didn't recognize it, but some of the kids sometimes
trade cars, so I was not too surprised.  Two very nice-looking gals got
out.  I didn't recognize them either, but sometimes friends of our kids get
invited to join in, and I don't get told about it in advance - I'm supposed
to just know these things somehow.  It happens.  I just waited to find out
who they were and do the proper greeting.

The two gals went to the back of the SUV to get something out.  I thought
to myself: "Well, they are bringing something for the party - no big deal"
- it happens sometimes when I have not been told in advance.  Next thing I
knew, out came a jumbo-sized suitcase from the SUV, and one of the gals
started rolling it toward the porch where I was standing.

She called out:  "Merry Christmas", and I answered, "Merry Christmas".  She
rolled that thing up to the porch, and now I'm wondering to myself: "What
on earth is this?".  She brought that thing right up to me, and smiled, and
I'm thinking: "What is she doing?  What is she thinking?  Does she think
she is going to spend the night or something?  Is this some kind of a joke
someone is pulling on me?  Does she have the wrong house?", etc.

She pulled out a clip board, held it up to me, and said, "Sign here, sir".
I said, "What is this?"  She was getting frustrated: "It's your luggage,
sir!!"  I said: "What luggage?"  Now she was really furstrated: "It's your
lost luggage from American Airlines!!"  I said, "I don't have any lost
luggage from American Airlines".  She said, OH MY, You are Mr. XXX (I
forgot the name), aren't you."  I said, "No, I'm not".  She said, "OH MY
GOSH, this is XXX Norwood Road, isn't it?  I said, "No it isn't.  Norwood
Road is two streets up that way off New York Avenue.  These streets are in
alphabetic order."  She thanked me; the two gals packed up that big
suitcase again, and left, and I thought: "It's no wonder luggage sometimes
gets lost - PERMANENTLY LOST"!  By that time, our kids started arriving.

Merry Christmas!!  Jim Ellis