The Ghost of Christmas Present is here, and he's in great shape. Big, round, fat, sassy, funny. After about the eighth glass of wine last night, we also spent a little time with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

But mostly these days I'm communing with Christmas Past. As my bride and I share the holidays with our children, I see how the impressions of the season are made. And I think back fondly on the folks who made those impressions on me -- my grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and family friends. They made do with so much less than we have today, and in many ways they managed to give us more.

Only a few of them are still on the planet, but tonight we'll drink a toast to all of them, here and gone. Their spirits are still very much with us, and for that we are most grateful.