“I Opted Out of Christmas This Year — And My Son Didn’t See What Was Coming”

and placed it in the bag. For once, I wasn’t packing for anyone else. No extra supplies, no gifts to transport, no serving dishes to bring. Just what I needed.

I paused at my closet and considered the deep red velvet dress I’d worn every Christmas Eve for the past decade. I touched the soft fabric, remembering all the dinners where I’d worn it while continue reading …