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If you do a search for "US cities named Christmas" (which, fine, everyone needs hobbies), you won’t find my home It’s not a city It’s barely a freeway exit

You won’t find Angel, grinning and bursting with pride, showing off his new paintings--the only non-Christ on the diner walls You won’t find Lorna, organizing the Christ Ben’s opinion on what to serve for snacks You won’t find Rick andthe Bonanza DVDs dubbed in Spanish we got him for his birthday

You won’t find Candy Neither will Jerry, for thaton the roof, talking and laughing and planning in our warnated place

But it doesn’t matter anymore if you can’t find o, this one isn’t as sad as it could be

I’m not Tiny Tim There were no Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, or Future All told, it is a tale coels and elves, wise men and shepherds Even Santa didn’t make an appearance

Nope As it turns out, I was visited by Hulda

"Yes Yes" I heard her voice, high and clear, through the crowd of people who stood too close, wearing coats that were too heavy Our collective breath clung to the s, alht outside I shifted onif there is any place on earth o O’Hare Airport five days before Christmas

Families ran for connections Carols played over a scratchy PA syste But for soainst the counter at gate H18

"New York," the girl said "I will go there please Now"

Her voice carried an accent that I couldn’t quite place--the consonants too precise, like soht not be understood

She slid her ticket toward the gate agent then forced a slance at the piece of paper and forced a smile of her own "Oh, I’irl rolled her eyes "Yes That is why I stand in this line and talk to you You can change it to New York, no? It is okay I ait"

The gate agent shook her head and punched a few keys on her coirl waited

"No I’ent said a eable and nonrefundable Do you understand?"

"I am Icelandic I aent trailed off, looking for words "I’ht And even if it could, this flight is full"

"But I ht I could fly to where this ticket takes me and then take a bus or a train to New York, but it is very far In Iceland, the distances … they are not so far And now I ao, to see soent shook her head "You can purchase a ticket for New York We have another flight leaving at six ao to New York you ht"

"But I have a ticket!" the girl snapped and pushed her old ticket forward again

Meanwhile, another gate agent was approaching the door, propping it open as she announced, "Hello, ladies and gentleht 479 with nonstop service to New York’s LaGuardia Airport"

The lady behind the counter gave a desperate look to the even irl "You will either need to buy a ticket for a later flight or go to your original destination"

"But e ht is full"