I’m having a good Christmas. Most of my loved ones were under the same roof tonight, we all had time for each other and gifts to give, and, most importantly, we were all here. I almost always have a good Christmas.

I can’t imagine what it’s like not to have one. I haven’t lived through a divorce, no one in my family has ever been disowned, no one is in jail, no one has destroyed their lives with poor choices and they are no running feuds with current and future in-laws (yet, anyway). While I’m sure I sound cliched and stereotypically middle class, I feel extremely fortunate for my loved ones.

Up until this year, December 24 has marked the only night out of the other 364 that all five Hursts (Roger, Wendy, Tyler, Bryan and Logan) have slept in the same house, celebrated Christmas morning the same way and had our Christmas tree in the same spot. We may not have many family traditions, but Christmas Eve night was definitely one of them. That changed this year.

Thanks to new additions Sarah (Bryan’s wife) and Nick (Logan’ fiance) we switched things up a bit to accommodate. Bryan and Sarah left to go to her parent’s house, Logan and Nick went to her apartment just down the street. That leaves only me and my sleeping parents in the only home the three of us kids have ever known, and it sure feels weird.

But it doesn’t feel bad. I’m not upset that Bryan and Logan aren’t here, but I really thought I would be. I’m not annoyed by their family demands on their time, but I would have told you that a week ago. Life is changing. All the Hurst kids are grown up.

So thank you, mom and dad, for a great start. Thank you, Bryan and Logan, for growing up with me. Thank you, Sarah and Nick, for becoming part of our family. Thank you for reminding me that I have something here so monumentally great it’s hard to explain to anyone who hasn’t experienced it.

I will never, ever be numb to Christmas. I won’t dread it, I won’t hate to spend time with people and I’ll never take it for granted. I wish everyone could feel this way. I wish for at least one second, you could all share in the acceptance or togetherness or tranquility that I have going on.

Sure, I took a lot of shit this morning about my Vibrams, argued with my dad about salary expectations for a job and went back and forth with Logan all day. These things happen. We all annoy each other. (Okay, I mostly annoy them, but I’m special, right?) And that’s all okay.

So to all our differences, to all our petty disagreements, stupid arguments and pointless battles, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas. From my house to yours and beyond, I wish you all the very best. I wish you all what I have now and what I’ll have in the years ahead.

And to all a good night.