The McKennas, as those who have read the books know, are not a perfect bunch. They are not a quiet, genteel group of people who never squabble or have a ruckus now and then.
But the fact is that Family is too precious to be tampered with too much. Fights come and go, disagreements ensue, and sometimes a fit or two is thrown, but all concerned know one thing; Family is forever. And ever.
And that is a good thing.
So, almost before the drama begins, they try and end it. Now, there is the odd one now and then...like Torrance...who want to make a point and drag it out, but everyone lets her have her tantrum and her righteous indignation and then go on about their business, anyway.
Who wants to look back over their life and realize they lost a sister or brother or mom or dad along the way just because they got their nose out of joint? No nose is worth that. At least that is the way the McKennas feel about it.
So, this year, as in many, many years before; the McKennas will go to church Christmas Eve night. They will have Christmas morning at their respective houses and then go up to Old House in the afternoon so all the young cousins can tell each other what presents they received and their parents can talk and play some cards and pick a guitar or two.
They'll have sandwiches and eggnog and hot chocolate and some very bad Old House coffee and the Christmas clock will chime the hours away. If it has snowed, the kids will sled down Old House hill. If things really get going, they'll crank the Victrola and push the furniture back and dance.
They all hope that your Christmas is a good one, even if, as they find this year during the Great Depression, money is very tight and Santa Claus pack didn't hold much. It really doesn't matter.
Christmas comes anyway. Jesus sleeps in the manger and also smiles at the shenanigans going on with the children and hugs each one individually if we will only let Him. And He will hug you, too.
Merry Christmas. From Old House down the hill to New House. From Kate and Buck's across the Soque River to the Big House. From the Dooley Courier to the Marshal's office to the Doc's and the diner and St. Jude's church and out to the airfield, Merry Christmas.
From us and from all the McKenna Family.