Yesterday, as my father-in-law told us happily at the end of the evening, was "raucous." It's been a lively cheerful Christmas, jam-packed with family traditions, such as listening to Sounds of North American Frogs (one of the funniest recordings ever made) and continuously rearranging the Christmas displays into ominous tableaux.

But for some reason, despite going to bed very late, I couldn't fall asleep, then couldn't stay asleep. So for the moment I am feeling groggy and fragile, like someone who might accidentally collapse into her dinner plate. Let's hope a nap is in my future.