December 19th 2015

One December night, maybe 1986 or 1987, myself and my two friends, Rich and Dano, tossed some beer into our backpacks and hopped the red line into Boston. We strolled through the Boston Common gazing
at all the Christmas lights strewn in the trees, the nativity scene and the lighted Christmas tree.We
told stories as we gathered by the war statue on the hill. We slid across the frozen Duck Pond. We hid
from the icy wind beneath the Public Garden bridge. We laughed. We remembered our Christmas' pasts.
A Christmas tradition was born. Over the years different faces have come and gone but the tradtion has carried on. Well, tonight that tradition continues.

Dano (about 5 minutes away from passing out on the train ride home), Rich, Lou (a relative new addition going back about 4 Christmas' or so) and Wabrek.

Though I'm sporting a beer can, a newer tradition has developed within the tradition-- going to a new bar each year for beer and appetizers, then heading back out into the Commons/Public Garden.