I also recall a day I'll remember for its contentment, when I felt strangely happy. I say strangely because I was fighting a cold and still had a lot to do: all the cards to write, gifts to wrap and baking to do. But the tree was up and decorated and a marathon of biblical movies flickered on TV.
I addressed envelopes and curled ribbons to the soundtrack from "King of Kings" (I watched the film some too, but I listened more than looked). The majesty of that music seemed more fitting than any Christmas carol, and I went about my holiday tasks with a new sense of meaning and anticipation.
It was just a moment, but it was such a pleasant one that it seems to encapsulate all this holiday's happy moments. Now I sit in front of that same tree, which must soon be taken down, and, well, I just wish I could do it all over again.