Catherine Nicolai

I wasn't a very organized person, so when it came time to gather together all the bulbs and strands of light and little houses for the Christmas village, we'd had to troop up to the attic, down into the basement, root through the garage, and dig under the bed. But eventually, we found nearly everything.

our tree went up in the living room, right in front of the big picture window, where it could be seen from the street. There was a moment of contention while we debated white lights versus colored lights, but luckily, my sweetheart realized I'd made a very convincing argument, and my pick was strung up. as we hung up bulbs and ornaments, some from my collection and some from his.

our tree went up in the living room, right in front of the big picture window, where it could be seen from the street. There was a moment of contention while we debated white lights versus colored lights, but luckily, my sweetheart realized I'd made a very convincing argument, and my pick was strung up. as we hung up bulbs and ornaments, some from my collection and some from his.

our tree went up in the living room, right in front of the big picture window, where it could be seen from the street. There was a moment of contention while we debated white lights versus colored lights, but luckily, my sweetheart realized I'd made a very convincing argument, and my pick was strung up. as we hung up bulbs and ornaments, some from my collection and some from his.

We told the stories of them. Here was the bulb my mom had been gifted the year I was born, with the date still etched on the side and the crack that had been carefully glued after I'd pulled the tree down when I was three. Here was the ornament made of popsicle sticks and cotton balls he'd glued together in kindergarten. Unrecognizable as any particular thing, but cherished just the same.

We told the stories of them. Here was the bulb my mom had been gifted the year I was born, with the date still etched on the side and the crack that had been carefully glued after I'd pulled the tree down when I was three. Here was the ornament made of popsicle sticks and cotton balls he'd glued together in kindergarten. Unrecognizable as any particular thing, but cherished just the same.

We told the stories of them. Here was the bulb my mom had been gifted the year I was born, with the date still etched on the side and the crack that had been carefully glued after I'd pulled the tree down when I was three. Here was the ornament made of popsicle sticks and cotton balls he'd glued together in kindergarten. Unrecognizable as any particular thing, but cherished just the same.

As we decorated, the animals watched a bit nervously from their beds. Boxes were often regarded with suspicion by all of them. Things were either coming in or going out, and they weren't sure they approved of either. Finally, Marmalade, bravest of the three, tiptoed up to the tree and reached a paw out toward a green glass bulb.

As we decorated, the animals watched a bit nervously from their beds. Boxes were often regarded with suspicion by all of them. Things were either coming in or going out, and they weren't sure they approved of either. Finally, Marmalade, bravest of the three, tiptoed up to the tree and reached a paw out toward a green glass bulb.

As we decorated, the animals watched a bit nervously from their beds. Boxes were often regarded with suspicion by all of them. Things were either coming in or going out, and they weren't sure they approved of either. Finally, Marmalade, bravest of the three, tiptoed up to the tree and reached a paw out toward a green glass bulb.

I could see her curious eyes reflected in the surface, and whether she broke the bulb or not, I thought I was likely to remember this moment for years to come. Her wonder at it, the glow of the tree lights through the fur of her ears, She batted it experimentally, and I squatted down beside her and replaced it with a felted mouse on skis.

I could see her curious eyes reflected in the surface, and whether she broke the bulb or not, I thought I was likely to remember this moment for years to come. Her wonder at it, the glow of the tree lights through the fur of her ears, She batted it experimentally, and I squatted down beside her and replaced it with a felted mouse on skis.

I could see her curious eyes reflected in the surface, and whether she broke the bulb or not, I thought I was likely to remember this moment for years to come. Her wonder at it, the glow of the tree lights through the fur of her ears, She batted it experimentally, and I squatted down beside her and replaced it with a felted mouse on skis.

She reached out again, batting at it, and watching the branch bounce as it was buffeted. I gave up and just unhooked the mouse and tossed it for her. She caught it and kicked it under the couch, where she could just barely fit, her hind legs and tail sticking out as she wrestled with her new toy. We decided to move anything breakable up to the higher branches.

She reached out again, batting at it, and watching the branch bounce as it was buffeted. I gave up and just unhooked the mouse and tossed it for her. She caught it and kicked it under the couch, where she could just barely fit, her hind legs and tail sticking out as she wrestled with her new toy. We decided to move anything breakable up to the higher branches.

She reached out again, batting at it, and watching the branch bounce as it was buffeted. I gave up and just unhooked the mouse and tossed it for her. She caught it and kicked it under the couch, where she could just barely fit, her hind legs and tail sticking out as she wrestled with her new toy. We decided to move anything breakable up to the higher branches.

Crumb came closer to sniff at the boxes and tilt his head. as I wound the key on the bottom of a snow globe and tipped it up in front of him. A tinny version of the Christmas song played as he watched the suspended snowflakes slowly drift down over a little house not so different from our own. I hummed along, reached out to scratch under his chin.

Crumb came closer to sniff at the boxes and tilt his head. as I wound the key on the bottom of a snow globe and tipped it up in front of him. A tinny version of the Christmas song played as he watched the suspended snowflakes slowly drift down over a little house not so different from our own. I hummed along, reached out to scratch under his chin.

Crumb came closer to sniff at the boxes and tilt his head. as I wound the key on the bottom of a snow globe and tipped it up in front of him. A tinny version of the Christmas song played as he watched the suspended snowflakes slowly drift down over a little house not so different from our own. I hummed along, reached out to scratch under his chin.

To pups from one to ninety-two, though it's been said many times, many ways, meowy Christmas to you. I heard a chuckle from the other room. and wondered if my appreciation for bad puns had come as a surprise, like my electrical handyman skills had. I heard him bustling around in the kitchen, a drawer opening, and wondered if he was starting dinner.