A couple decades ago, my AP English class read Dylan Thomas’ “A Child’s Christmas in Wales,” and I challenged them to write a piece in that style. They insisted that I do that assignment, too; we read their stories aloud over a couple of days before the holidays, and without exception, it was some of the best writing I’ve read.

-14 to Christmas Eve “Photographs and memories, Christmas cards you’ve sent to me…” That Jim Croce line runs through my mind often during the holidays (Yes, I know it’s a song about a break up. “Jolly” is not a word that usually is associated with the random things I remember.) I was in middle school when I saved babysitting money