There is a good chance the next few lines might fall under the uninteresting category, but let me brag for just a moment.

First, after driving a total of 1,200 miles over the Thanksgiving week, the family is all back home, the car is relatively cleaned out and I swear to all that is holy that I can now recite every line to the movie “Planes” without having to see the screen. It’s a talent I now list as one of my biggest accomplishments.

Second, the Christmas tree is up at the Reeves’ home. No one was badly injured, very few things were broken in the process and I am still searching for the final Wise man for the nativity scene. I told Stephanie I put them all together when packing it up last year, but so help me, he simply wandered off. Maybe he got lost on another star this year.

But, now that Thanksgiving is behind us and the tree is now up, I now grant everyone permission to begin listening to Christmas music and can now begin with their Christmas sales.

At least, that used to be the way things used to be.

There are very few things in my life that I look back upon and wish they were the way things used to be, but the sense of awe and wonderment that surround Christmas is one of them.

Maybe it’s that I am older, a parent and stressed about all the things on the “must do” list between now and Christmas morning. Maybe it’s that the world seems to move faster than ever and the obligations and demands on being older are at times overwhelming.

There is a picture that is often circulated on social media, usually with some animal stretched across the floor, with the words “I don’t want to adult today.” How true.

There are days when “adulting” is no fun and there are days when I envy dropping Sarah Cameron off at school. Better yet, I more envy dropping off the boys at daycare and seeing all the toys that can be enjoyed and the playground. If only that were available at work.

But, through all of the stresses, all of the demands and all of the lists, there are enjoyments that can never be duplicated. There are the glows of wonderment that I might have lost myself, but that are found in my children.

There are thrills and mysteries I might be too old to enjoy or appreciate that are now being experienced by my children. And for me, that is a gift I so look forward to now.

As you trudge through the next few weeks, making your lists and checking it twice, do all you can to slow the season down just a bit.

And, let me be among the first to wish you all a very, Merry Christmas.

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Tim Reeves is publisher of The Vicksburg Post. You may reach him at tim.reeves@vicksburgpost.com.