I usually choose not to listen to the radio on my way in to the office each morning.  I live only a mile away, which is just far enough away to get an earful of those “morning drive” radio ads.  Who cares.  Today, however, was different because I had to drive from my Mother in-law’s house.  You see, like hundreds of thousands of folks in Upstate South Carolina, we lost electricity at home in what one power company calls “the worst ice storm on record.” Many people not only lost power but also lost homes, cars, and loved ones.   We are among the more lucky ones.  My wonderful in-law’s home is the third stop for my wife and children on our 2005 Slumber Party Tour.  We also spent a night at the office, and a couple of nights with the world’s best neighbors who wisely invested in a generator many months ago.  This morning, with the additional time I had during my commute, I flipped on the radio to one of those stations that starts playing 24/7 Christmas music the day after Halloween.  A few songs into the mix, I heard  “There’s no place like home for the Holidays”.  I chuckled with thoughts of my cold, dark home, yet as I listened, my thoughts turned to those whose homes and lives have been turned upside down by hurricanes, tsunamis, earthquakes, war.  Way too much has been lost over the past year.  The power at our home will be restored, but for far too many people, what was lost, is lost forever.  This Christmas my family will gather around the table, as we always do, and we will bow our heads and hold hands as we always do. But this Christmas, rather than trying to rush through the day, we will bow ours heads a little longer, we will hold hands a little tighter and we will remember just how blessed we truly are.  The warmth in my house will be warmer.  The lights will be brighter.  The taste of home cooking will fill us up like never before. And those, “Oh, it’s just what I always wanted”, will come from the heart. There really is no place like home for the holidays, or any other day.  We wish everyone could be home.

For anyone reading this who has a son or daughter in Iraq, please know we will be thinking of you all.  For those who know anyone who works for the power company, who had to spend nights away from their home to help restore the power to ours, please thank them.  And to everyone, may your days be merry and bright and warm.

PS. My wife just called to tell me someone stole my neighbor’s generator in the middle of the night.  Now that was cold.

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