Notes from Cottonwood

Midnight Mass was packed, standing room only, and half the Iradis wore their best chapan with a fur collar. The choir sang "Silent Night" in English, and then in Iradi, and then, to my surprise, in what I think was Syriac. I'm not Catholic enough to know whether that's allowed. It sounded right.

At home: tree from a pot (we found a fir at the nursery on the highway strip, $14), stockings on the porch rail, a long call to Ohio. Lily asked if Santa has the right visa. I said Santa has an excellent visa.

Merry Christmas to everyone back home.