In the kitchen, Griff was putting steaks, ribs, frozen French Fries and a Baskin Robbins ice cream cake in the freezer. American beer in the refrigerator. It was likely that Bob and Tommy would soon be watching football on his big screen.

Christmas in California was never the same as childhood wonder at the arrival of Pere Noel in Montreal. The Rue Sainte-Catherine. Street vendors at Le Grand Marche de Noël. Stained glass windows in Notre-Dame Basilica. Window displays in the shops in Jacques Cartier Square. The magic of fireworks at Old Port. His Grandmother baking and decorating the traditional Yule log cake. Stockings filled with toys early on Christmas morning. New Skates. Skating with his Mother on Christmas Day.

arrow But it was the uninterrupted days and nights he and Caydance spent together this week at his beach house that were foremost on his mind. He longed to see his Grandmother, whose home in Montreal had been the center of childhood Christmas visits. But on this day before they flew to Canada, thinking about the past few days -- no revising game plans; no art school prep -- all he really desired was their own Christmas tree in the beach house living room and more days and nights alone with his new wife.