Our house is not exactly like what Clement Clark Moore describes in his poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” written in 1779 that has become a tradition of many to read the day before Christmas.
Today is Christmas Eve and creatures are stirring all though our house, especially canine guests Brenden, Penny, and Max, who we hope don’t bark and frighten Santa and the eight reindeer away tonight. Daphne dog comes on Christmas morn while Regina, Kitten Little, and Miss Kitty await St. Nick at their home in Leslie.
Like always, the reindeer will safely maneuver the sleigh on the roof top and let’s hope the jolly red elf remembers to slide down the kitchen fireplace chimney. We’ve been in this house long enough for him to recall he tried in vain and without luck to get down the living room chimney on his first try here.
As soon as St. Nick opens his large bag of goodies we hope he’ll leave everyone’s favorite toys under the tree: emeralds, diamonds, rubies, and pearls, bright and shiny new cars, Peter Millar shirts, ties and jackets for the dapper guys, and chic dresses, furs, leggings, and tops for the gals as well as airline tickets for everyone for trips around the world.
However, we’ll be more than happy and grateful to receive presents filled with good health for the poor and millionaires worldwide mixed with love and happiness, promises of green grass, flowering gardens,  and the arrival of a healthy new baby boy in our family next month.
As Santa jumps on the sleigh to continue his merry mission around the globe, we know he will wave and chuckle as the reindeer safely guide him through the dark of night.
And I can almost hear him exclaim as he drives out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
I join Santa in the magic, and personally wish a very Merry Christmas to each and every one.
Visitors from near and far are here this week to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, and include Ed and Melissa (Dickens) Wolverton of Wilmington, N.C., are visiting her mother, Eugenia Dickens; Kara Riccardi McMickle and family of Macon visited her parents Dr. Lou and Candy Riccardi and grandmother, Nancy Kinnebrew Bell this week; Margaret Barrett of Powder Springs, Helen Penter of Charlotte, Zach and Jessi Herndon of Atlanta are our Christmas guests while Beau Barrett of Bluffton, S.C., is visiting his parents, Mark and Anne Barrett of Leslie; Sissy Ledbetter is here from Thomasville visiting parents Dr. Gatewood and Cindy Dudley; Ross and Charlotte Chambliss are entertaining their family from Columbus, Atlanta, and Savannah; Laura Dean Williams and son Brendan Williams of Birmingham, were here last weekend visiting her parents Mary and Murph Ledbetter and brother and family, John and Tiffany Dean and Mary Catherine Dean.
Meanwhile, Southland Academy’s 2006 class held their 10th class reunion here last weekend. Saturday morning the guys played a round of golf at Griffin Bell Golf Course, and then everyone was invited to a wine tasting at Wolf Creek Winery that afternoon. That evening they regrouped at the Windsor Hotel’s Americus-Sumter room for a cocktail buffet and band party.
Classmates attending were Dr. Angie Davenport Miller, Mackenzie Hart Greene, Allison Guth Mobley, Amanda Murray Byrd, Amber Barfield Hooks, Pagie Buchanan Lynn, Shelley Tondee Roderick, Brooks Maffett, Alison Daniel, Kate Fussell, Savannah Dortch, Dr. Alex Riccardi, Jody Sellars, Will Krenson, John Edwards, Zach Slaughter, Brad Ward, Andrew Austin, Levi Tuggle, Kyle Willis, Rob Douglas, Andrew Cook, Spencer Windham, Ryan Brown, and Brice Ransom.
And Tracy and Lisa Law and twin sons enjoyed a long weekend in Denver, Colorado, followed by skiing nearby.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.