Sunday morning homily XIII

Instead of worrying about Wiis, out-of-town in-laws and whether a puppy is a good idea for a Christmas present, we should all take time to remember the best presents we'll ever get: family.
Like the rest of you, the holidays are an easy time to get together. Some of us, like me, eat way too much. Some of us might over imbibe in holiday festivities. No problem, just as long as they don't drive. The bottom line? We have a great time.

Living in Florida, we tend to have more visitors. Our annual flow began earlier this week. Today, once Colin's auntie drives up from Naples, we'll check out the Florida Aquarium. Later this week, we'll take a cousin to the airport. A few days later, a great aunt arrives. Then, about 10 days later, my in-laws arrive.

Rather than view each of these visits as an errand, I like to think of each as extending the holiday season.

While it's nice getting presents and all, I've always believed those presents, no matter how good the intentions, eventually break, wear out or, for some reason beyond my comprehension, shrink a size or two. The memories that evolve from these get-togethers? Well, they last a lifetime.

And those, my friends, are the best presents.

Line of the year, so far

Carolina's Andrew Ladd, who signed the 1,400th puck of the collection, spent a few days back in the American Hockey League earlier this month.

Given this exchange as he signed a couple of cards before the 'Canes 4-1 victory over the Dolts last night, I believe suiting up with the Albany River Rats made an impression:

Puckhound: It's good to see you back up here.

Ladd: Thanks. It's good to be back.

Puckhound: Not that Albany isn't a nice city, and all.

Ladd: Grrrr-grumble-mumble-rrr (or something to that effect).

As a side note, Ladd scored Carolina's first goal, swatting in a rebound as he dove across the front of the net. Maybe, some of Albany's grit rubbed off on Ladd.

5 Big Sigs

Did you really think that I'd let something like Christmas week keep me from hounding the Montreal Canadiens later this week? C'mon, you should know me better than that.

Either way, and I really do mean that, here's what I'll try to add to the collection:

~ Any living Montreal Canadiens legend traveling with the team (any of the official ambassadors would be nice) on a replica jersey;
~ rookie Kyle Chipchura, a No. 1 pick, on a Canadiens puck;
~ Captain Saku Koivu on a wallpaper from the team's Web site
~ Assistant coach Kirk Muller on one of those New York Islanders' fish stick logo pucks; and
~ Rookie goalie Carey Price on Canadiens and Tri-City Americans pucks.