My friend brought Christmas to my doorstep on a recent night.
It didnât look like any Christmas before, of course; the pandemic has canceled parties, playdates, the ability to flit from shop to shop in search of the perfect presents, even the handing out of holiday gifts with a hug.
Instead, my friend and I texted no-contact drop-off details, and her daughter included a handmade card for my kids. I caught the faint slice of headlights as her car headed back down the driveway and into the cold night.
But her thoughtful gift brought back some of the old holiday magic. Inside, sheâd packed an array of goodies from Chocolate Maven: fudgy brownies, a sweet-and-tart mini loaf and two festive, oversized Christmas tree cookies. Even seeing the logo transported me to brighter times, of stopping into a local bakery or ice cream shop with my little ones for an after-school treat.