Mom and Grandma busied themselves with the turkey and all the fixings. The busy excitement of Christmas eve candlelight services and of Christmas dawning with gifts for everyone and the family visits was now upon us and there was snow. "Where's John?" Marge asked, heading back to the piano. "Carl wanted more bulbs. I'm sure he'll be right back," Florrie said. Three plastic carolers, lit from the inside and almost life-size for children, stood on a snowy front porch, hands holding a single open songbook in front of them. The sweet smell of pine greenery was in the air and colorful lights lit the evergreens, casting a soft glow through the snow. But one section of bushes were dark. Inside behind the soft frosted window panes, the house was warm and bustling with activity. But Grandpa Feil was outside and holding in his hands some warm colorful icycle shaped lightbulbs. To find the one that was out, he had unscrewed each and every bulb and checked it with a shake. "Can you hand me da dinks" he'd said to Evan and he happily turned his gaze toward the spare bulb box he held. What he'd actually meant by "dinks" was :"Can you get me a spare package of bulbs?" Dinks was just an all purpose word. There were nothing but loose bulbs in the box and they looked like they'd been used. He picked up a green and a red one and held them out in his palm. "Carlshon! Was machen sie?" said GG, (Grandma) Christina Feil, leaning out the front door.. "Ja!" he said in response. Inside the heat from the radiators kept it warm and cozy. Old fashioned Christmas melodies came from the radio and the pungent smell of a cigar filled the air. Grandma and her helpers, dressed in green-red elf costumes, were busy bringing deserts out from the kitchen and presents were ready under the tree. In Grandpa's pocket was a special present that he had hidden for his "liebe". Uncle John returned. "I spent 32 cents, I gave the bulbs to Carl and and a ring to his helper," he said. As usual he had a cigar in his mouth. So he must have removed it's wrapper and handed it to Evan as a "ring". The kids loved to wear the cigar rings on their fingers. Dressed in his usual gray suit and tie, he was just content puffing on a good cigar and observing the happiness around him. "C'mere Shnook," said GG and I suddenly turned, for shnook was the the loving way she referred to her grandchildren. I pointed to my chest, mouthing; "me?" She smiled and motioned me over with her finger. Nestled in the warm bosom of my grandmother, it felt good. I also wandered what was happening that she was treating me like a child. Then I looked over a mirror on the side table along the inner dining room wall and saw my reflection. Blonde crew cut hair, the face of a little boy. I couldn't have been any older than eight! No wander I was standing at the height of that little mirror. "Ich habe das paket gebracht," Carl said to his Tina, puitting his special little present right into her lap. Only a few of his German phrases were understood by anyone else. One of them was Guten Abend (good night) and another was "nicht sprechen" (stop speaking!) "Does everyone have an egg nog or drink? If so, let us now raise our glasses and toast Carol, who's birthday is today", said Grandma and she handed me a glass of her homemade eggnog. I always thought it unfair to combine your birthday with Christmas but it made perfect sense if your name was Carol. "To Carol-" they said, each and everyone. When Grandpa Feil tried to capture that special photo, the picture wouldn't always take or he thought it wouldn't take. It sometimes took anyway, although he didn't know it. In instances like that there was no need to say "cheese". Everyone in the room was already laughing as he futzed with the camera, his little tongue out to the side between his teeth as he concentrated. "C'mon Pop we can't hold this pose," Fitz joked. "Speak for yourself. I can hold it forever,"Kay said. "He's got one too many buttons on that camera," John said to Lou, who wore the big broad smile of someone who was on top of the world.