Whew – it is already Christmas Eve. This morning I needed a brief respite from a week of endless hours spent staring at the computer screen, plus a trip out to the garage to run my car since we’re back in the Deep Freeze. As I bundled up and pulled my boots on, I figured I might as well mosey over to Memorial Park for a petite promenade to air out my brain and stretch my fingers and legs in the process. Memorial Park is only two streets away and stretches the length of three City blocks. I walked carefully, mindful of any tricky ice patches, but the light dusting of fresh snow seemed to cover over any slick spots, so that was appreciated. As I walked through the Park my boots crunched with each step I made. I took stock of the snow near the curb encircling the Park and it is now sloppy, slushy and ugly with muddy strands of grass peeking out of the salt-stained dregs of last week’s snowstorm. Inside the Park, the snow is sometimes frozen in misshapen piles. Glazed-over puddles are scattered here and there and when I encountered them I strayed off the path and onto the grass, carefully staying clear of the yellow-tinged snow, of course. Just like the day after the big snowfall, I plodded around the edge of the Park resembling a great, sure-footed Clydesdale, or perhaps more like a cloven-hoofed flying deer like this one from Santa’s stable pictured above. In the end, my pedometer registered that I racked up a measly 2 1/2 miles, but every little bit counts right now. It may not look or feel like Christmas here in Michigan this morning, but there are predictions of some light snow arriving on and throughout Christmas Day. I could surely live without it, but that is me – I am already Winter weary. So, my work day is beginning, but just think … the Big Guy has already been making a tour ‘round the globe and won’t be touching down here in North America until the wee hours of the morn. These days you can track Santa’s whereabouts on Norad or Google’s Santa Tracker, but what about the old-fashioned way? Just tilt your head toward the Heavens and you’ll see the sleigh and team gliding across the sky. Godspeed to you and your reindeer dear Santa as you make your way around the world bestowing gifts to each of us good girls and boys.