Mimsy and I are in agreement about most things, admittedly we don’t talk politics much, though I would value her opinion over some humans I know.  Our point of contention the last two days has been the recent snowfall. I thought it just about the perfect kind of snow, it stuck to the ground, but not the streets. But the best part, from my perspective, it provided us with a “White Christmas.”

Mimsy is not concerned with “atmosphere” or Christmas tradition, all she knows is that she has to go out and wade through the cold stuff to do her business. I guess I understand her viewpoint, 3 inches of snow is 1/4th her height, that would be like me going out barefoot in snow up to my knees. And as she reminds me, I get to stay inside where it’s warm to do my business. Fair enough.

Mimsy and I did share one common Christmas wish though, and it had nothing to do with snow.

Mrs. Poppy and myself host Christmas dinner. We have the room, Mrs. Poppy can do Christmas decorations suitable for a Norman Rockwell painting, and I love to cook. It’s an arrangement that no one has complained about. This year our entire family (plus) was in attendance, two daughters, two grand-kids, one son-in-law, one boyfriend and two parents belonging to the boyfriend.

We tried to institute a new rule about gift-giving this year. The terms were simple and easy to understand, or at least I thought so; No presents were to be exchanged between adults, only the grand-kids would receive presents. I thought this was a swell idea. It would save everyone money and shopping hassles. I certainly didn’t need anything and I’m pretty sure neither did any of the other adults. My plan did have a massive loop-hole that I didn’t foresee.  Playing by the rules, my daughters should not have been able to get me or Mrs. Poppy any gifts, but that did not stop them from having the grand-kids from buying presents for us. No grandchildren have ever given so many gifts that they were so blissfully unaware of.

In spite of the loop-hole (I will tighten that up next year), it was a wonderful Christmas.

Banished to Mrs. Poppy’s studio during dinner, Mimsy did not think it so wonderful, and she let her displeasure be known. Weighing all of twelve pounds, she does not have the lung capacity of a German Shepherd, something we and our guests were thankful for. Still she managed to be heard. Mimsy is the lowest maintenance dog we have ever owned, but the breed is known for having separation anxiety, and she has that in spades. We received Mimsy as a rescue, she was only two when we adopted her, but she had already had two families, plus the foster parents. Perhaps that plays a part in her anxiety, I need to talk to her about that.

Half-way through dinner we decided to liberate her. She flew down the stairs, made a few laps around the dining room table, did a little sniffing and snuffling, bounced around like a wind-up toy for a few moments, then settled down. She was content.

Loop-holes or temporary banishment to an upstairs room, Mimsy and I received our one Christmas wish. It’s simple and it’s perfect … just being with family.

Merry Christmas