Best wishes to everyone celebrating Christmas.

I am in Chicago with the family for Christmas with my 91-year-old mother Angela.  We are getting a dusting of snow for a white Christmas but the weather has been warmer than usual on our visit (in the 40s).  Last night, the kids and I went to Christmas Eve mass at St. Mary’s of the Lake, which has been our parish church for almost six decades. My mother was not up to the trip for the first time but we were there representing our family.

Last night, I made our traditional Cioppino soup — a tradition started by my late father, Jack Turley. I have previously written how I grew up hating the soup but the tradition fell to me. I am now as addicted to the soup as my father was. I always think of my dad (who was also my best friend) as we enjoy the soup with bread.

I cook the beef as well as the Yorkshire pudding, horseradish. and other traditional dishes for the dinner.  We will have the entire family clan over to the house. A total of 32 this year.

We are of course basking in the Chicago Bears winning the NFC North and vying for a home game in the playoffs. It has been a glorious season.

The Turley family wishes everyone a happy and safe holiday. I will be toasting our blog family tonight and give thanks for the wonderful community we have created at this site.

Best wishes,

Jonathan Turley