First, Brush Your Teeth

December 15, 2018, was a warm, sunny Southern California day. Not at all like frosty scenes in the Christmas cards that begin arriving in the mail about that time each year. I sat in the bedroom in my comfy armchair texting Chip and the kids, finalizing plans for that evening's family outing to look at Christmas lights. I heard someone running down the stairs right outside my room and, not knowing which Espinoza kid it might be, hollered out, "Hey, can you go see Christmas lights with us to...