  friends pitied me when they learned that i will be travelling on christmas eve. but i turned down invites because unlike last year, i wanted to be home on christmas day. the terminal was surprisingly deserted that night. there were only a few of us stubborn enough to welcome christmas in transit. my bus wasn't even full. at midnight, i said 'merry christmas! ' fairly aloud. then promptly went back to sleep. a younger brother didn't make it in time for christmas day, but with his arrival this morning, my family will be complete to start the new year. thank god for small blessings. 
