by Laurie Singer

I see him driving to the mall for a day of Christmas shopping and hoping for parking karma.

I see him picking out the latest movies on DVD for his mom. She looked forward to that package every year.

I see him doing that "guy thing" and finding cool stuff for the nephews he adored.

And when too many shoppers made him nuts, I'd see him head for the ice cream store. Crazy shoppers were as good an excuse as any for an ice cream break.

But most of all, I see him at home. Sitting in front of the fireplace. Holding a glass of wine and looking at the tree with those big old fashioned lights and remembering Christmas stories from another time. Traditional Christmas carols would fill our home and all the worries in our world would slip away.

It's such a strong image, I'm almost sure that if I walked out there right now ...

I'd see him.