The Night Before Christmas

Tonight baby chimed in on a few carols with her aunt, uncles, parents, and grandparents. She sang with less harmonic precision than her relations, but with no less heart. That there is no snow, and no cold weather, outside could not matter less to her, because how could it? That her West Coast family is one that strives to carry on old traditions will probably matter more to her, over time. She may, eventually, be able to eventually produce heartfelt adherence to tradition with the odd flash of sarcasm, the way we all seem to without undue effort. What no one has been sarcastic about is that, as the newest addition to the family, baby is a very special member and the focus of much of this year's celebrations.