Kind of like air going out of a balloon. Where’d it all go? And then it was 365 shopping days until next Christmas. Sure, there was a lot of commerc...alism, but the whole thing was fun. I don’t doubt for a moment that I might’ve conflated a bunch of actual memories of Christmases past with wishes for what Christmases should have been and created a history that never was, but still. Everybody had a good time with it and eggnog and the Christmas spirit and NOBODY got pissed off if you wished them. When you die you don't cease toexist but simply leave the vessel you once shared for another plain ofexistence and a different type of vessel. That existences is actually pureenergy and, I'm told, a bit more fun to deal with.Their existence is as real as yours although some move on immediately.On the other hand, some, like my two girls, remain. Unfortunately youaccidentally discovered them and because of that accident you now knowabout them. Most times we're very careful about that! OR SHOULD. I would have slept with the devil himself to have this woman. She got us another drink and she sat beside me in her undies touching me and describing the delights soon to come. In time I left and returned home in a state of hopeless confusion, not to mention desire.The next day at the newspaper I turned in my story and sat in my office wondering it last night had been some dream. I knew it wasn't though when I looked at the gilt card she had pressed into my hand before I left. It had only her. She wore a tight red shirt, and as I came right beside her, I noticed her fantastic chest complementing her body well. I also noticed that she was mature, in her late thirties, where I was only in my early twenties. Now normally I would leave it be, but after the hard hike to close in on her, you could say I was a bit delirious and so I called to her, “Ma’am, I have to say respectfully that you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” She turned her face with a surprised smile. She had.