Filled with Christmas cheer and good food, I sat back and didn’t want the night to end.

As I’ve written in this space before, Christmas Eve is my favorite night of the year. A close second is Halloween.

Anyway, we invited two of our family friends to come over to have dinner with us that evening.

The setting was small and comfortable as five of us gathered around the dining room table for crockpot pork chops, mashed potatoes and roasted broccoli.

Before I write on, I must say that the two family friends are the son and daughter in law of my parents’ good friends from Fayette County. They also live in Fairhope as well.

As the dinner went on, I couldn’t help but think to myself to enjoy the moment. It’ll be gone in a flash.

Thinking back on it now, I sat back in my chair (sorry, Mom) and soaked in the conversation.

Listening intently, my thoughts centered around the fact that these two people are family. We are not related by blood, but I consider them to be family.

Another side note is that we’ve had several dinners with this couple, along with my parents’ friends, and have had a great time during each occasion.

Maybe it’s the fact that we get on quite well, and that either the fifth or seventh wheel (me) just adds to the good times.

I don’t know. It’s weird, but I love that weird.

After dinner, I admit I didn’t want to help clean up the kitchen, but when I saw the amount of dishes, I had to act.

As I was putting food in containers for leftovers, I turned to my mom and said, “Mom, I don’t consider (family friends) friends, I consider them to be family.”

I don’t remember exactly what my mom said afterward, but I know she agreed.

Who are your close friends you consider to be family?