Not sure how the shifts work on Christmas day in recent times, but I was lucky enough to live in my post area, the old 201 which ran all the way down to the north side of 175 in Jessup. Christmas morning we were told we could dress for work, call on duty and watch our kids open presents and then later go out on patrol if we weren't needed otherwise. One Christmas I did just that and went out on patrol. I decided to check in on an elderly woman who lived alone that another officer and I took turns checking in on. I found that not one family member had been by to see how she was doing and the only person who had been there besides me was the other officer who had brought her a small, decorated Christmas tree. You never know how many forgotten people there are out there whose only contact is with emergency responders who take it upon themselves to check in on them. Not long after, I learned she had fallen, broke her hip and died in the nursing home. The family, who never bothered to check in on her sold that property as fast as they could. Her historic log cabin home was bulldozed and the farm built into a business park. After nearly 50 years, through Facebook contacts I am soon to meet with a relative of hers who wants to hear all about her. Funny how life goes. Merry Christmas, everyone.