Day 18 – Sometimes the Goat Gets Burned

Hey Dad,

It feels like something the Ghost of Christmas Present said concerning Tiny Tim, “If these shadows remain unaltered, I see a vacant chair and a small crutch lovingly preserved by the fire…” Only instead of a crutch, I see a  blackened pile of ash and a vacant spot where…the goat once stood.

By now you’ve heard the news, The Gavle (pronounce Yeah-bleh)Goat is…no more. The goat bid farewell on Twitter

“The last hour is here,” the somber message read. “I’m sorry to leave you now. Thank you my friends for this year! I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

But as the old adage goes, “Sometimes you get the goat and sometimes…the goat get’s burned down.” That’s the way it is with giant straw goats…and it’s also the way with Christmas. Sometimes you make plans and anticipate fun…and it IS!!! Other times, you make the plans and anticipate the fun…and the goat gets burned down.

The important thing, as a dad, is to never give up, like the good people of Gavle who plan to keep erecting the big goat. That’s why I keep at it. In fact, tonight we plan to sleep around the Christmas tree. We’ve done it for years. We’ll eat pizza, watch the Polar Express, and fall asleep all over the family room. Is it always fun? No. But who knows what might happen tonight?

I know one thing: I won’t find out unless I just do it. And either will you. Besides, as I’ve shared before sometimes the worst nights…become the best.

Go do something Christmas!

You ‘da dad,

Todd

Read more about the Goat and the fire here