Christmas dinner in the downtown San Francisco apartment of my daughter and her husband. This year's menu drew from traditional Italian sources, with themes of lemon and of garlic emphasized for continuity. Osso buco held pride of place, (preceded, accompanied and followed by many attendants, more and tastier than could be counted – but there is, sad to say, no food writer hiding anywhere in my identity with sufficient capacity even to name them all, much less describe them). After the feast everyone opened presents and exclaimed and admired and learned with what difficulties the choices had been made and rejoiced that they had been made triumphantly.