FAMILY AND OCCUPATIONS Jenny happily agreed to accompany John on his visit to his family gathering the following weekend. They were now officially a couple, and it would be a good time to introduce her to his mother, father, and brothers. Also at the get-together was John's uncle, named Doug. Doug was a mechanical engineer, who worked on all kinds of machines, including steam and gas turbines and electric generators. He was an extremely intelligent man, who helped guide John in his younger years. While chatting with his uncle, he noticed his two cousins Michael and Joanne in the background.

STAYING AT HOME It was a Sunday afternoon. John had no particular plans, so he slept in and allowed himself to catch up on sleep he had missed during the week. It would not be a completely lazy day though, for he had a number of household chores to do. Perhaps most important of all were the unpaid bills that needed to be taken care of. Housing isn't free, after all. Rent, electricity, water, internet, student loans, and phone plans all have payments due. Thanks to technology, however, all of these can be paid online without leaving the house. Next, the laundry had piled up over the week, and a few loads would be necessary for the upcoming week.

CHAPTER 7: TOWN AND CITY Before his big date with Jenny today, John had a few errands to run to make sure everything was ready. First of all, a trip to the bank was needed, so he could withdraw enough cash for the busy day ahead. Along the way to the bank, he stopped by his favorite coffee shop to pick up some much needed caffeine to jump-start the day. Next, he had to make a run to the post office and drop off some mail that was overdue and nearly late. After that, it was off to the mall to find a new outfit to wear on today's date.

CHAPTER 5: WORK While John's social life was blooming, his life at work was the polar opposite. He works at an office for an insurance company, and while the pay is good, the workload is overwhelming. Each morning, he checks his work email to find 50 new requests that have to be immediately dealt with. If he doesn't quickly dispatch and process the emails before lunch, he will get caught behind schedule and most likely have to work overtime. It's extremely stressful and more so when his boss is watching him over his shoulder. John's boss has to be strict with all the employees.

CHAPTER 6: ANIMALS AND NATURE To relieve some of the stress and anxiety he had been accumulating for quite some time, John set off on a nature walk. He heard that spending a day or two in the mountains would do wonders for him and his mental health. The isolation would give his mind time and space to detox and refresh. Animals would be his only companions during the walk. His house was located in an apartment complex, so it was pretty rare to see any wildlife besides the occasional squirrel.

CHAPTER 4: HOBBIES "It would be really nice to go on a date with one of those girls from class," John thinks to himself. "Hopefully, I can find something in common with one of them and maybe make a connection." His hobbies were somewhat relatable. Everybody likes watching TV and movies, including John, but would he be able to find a girl who likes video games? If not, could he find someone into professional baseball and basketball as much as he was? It would be amazing if he had someone to talk to about politics, history, and government. The first girl he met from yoga class was Jenny, who seemed really smart right away.

CHAPTER 3: EXERCISE John decides that he should really start taking better care of himself by exercising. It will help manage his stress and even help him lose the extra weight he put on. Starting next week, he will begin a jogging routine, where he will run five days a week. On the first day, he wakes up extra early before work and puts on his tennis shoes, eager to get started. After some basic stretches, the jogging starts, and everything seems to go well. Within two minutes, however, John is out of breath.

• May this season find you among those you love, sharing in the twin glories of generosity and gratitude.” — Oprah Winfrey
• “At Christmas, all roads lead home.” — Marjorie Holmes
• "Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection." — Winston Churchill
• “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” — Norman Vincent Peale
• “May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.” — Unknown
• “Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends.” — Margaret Thatcher
• “We are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder
• “Remembrance, like a candle, burns brightest at Christmastime.” — Charles Dickens
• "Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store.