Mamie Christmas!

What does it say about me that one of reasons I treasure the holidays - not a major one, granted, but an annual moment to cherish nonetheless - is the opportunity to appreciate again the Eisenhower's 1960 Christmas card?

And now you have the chance, again, too.  You're welcome.

This enchanting bit of illustrative calligraphy (or is calligraphic illustration?  The jury's out.) first appeared here all of four years ago.  How much has changed since 2009!

Then we were two old bachelors living in sin on the Arabian Gulf, rattling around in a big house with french doors that opened onto a tropical garden of bougainvillea and hibiscus.  Now we're a respectably married couple plopped to our surprise in a tidy little flat on the banks (more or less) of the Potomac.  I shall do my best, today and as we move into the new year, to concentrate on all the good things that have happened, and not, for example, on the fact that when I went out to walk the dogs at 6:30 this morning its was a robust 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

We're celebrating the day quietly enough; a festive round of drinks with friends last night was succeeded by an untraditional but decidedly delicious Thai dinner, and today we're staying home and having a nice roast leg of lamb.  Barbara Cook, Maureen McGovern, Thomas Hampson, and Dame Joan Sutherland are trilling away on the hi-fi (well, on the tiny wireless speaker, relayed from one of our phones - ah, this modern age), and all is well.  Whatever you are doing, Dear Reader, many thanks for your company this past year and best wishes for a Merry Christmas, from the Mister, Koko, Boudi, and me.

God, or whomever, bless us every one.