I took this last Christmas. It’s one of my favorite family photos. 

Christmas Eve was lovely. Our small apartment was saturated with the delicious smell of my mother’s cooking—leg of lamb, twice-baked potatoes, green beans…My indie Christmas playlist softly played in the background as family trickled in, while a few hands of poker were played and a few more glasses of wine sipped. During dinner stories were told and then retold. Everything felt all right and ended well. 

Yes, I was drunker than I should’ve been on Christmas Eve but, hey, it happens. I literally felt like a warm ball of happiness, and that was only partially alcohol-induced.