🎄 🎁 Christmas Coziness — Soft Holiday Night Story: Records Playing, Warmth, and Stillness

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00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:07,590
Welcome to The Slow Life.
I'm Jennifer Vino and I create,

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narrate and design the
soundscape of this village of

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00:00:12,060 --> 00:00:15,810
cosy stories to relax and
unwind.

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00:00:16,850 --> 00:00:20,240
Each week I share an original
story.

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Read 2 times so you can relax
even more during the second

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reading.
I'm introducing printable

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greeting cards inspired by the
cozy stories you hear on this

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podcast.
Go to theslowlife.ca and click

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00:00:41,020 --> 00:00:48,290
Shop on the top menu bar.
Let's settle in with some easy

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00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:54,690
breathing at your own pace.
With each inhale, let fresh air

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00:00:54,700 --> 00:00:57,150
fill the space around your
heart.

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With each exhale, feel the calm
air spread through your body and

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00:01:04,599 --> 00:01:11,360
flow out through your arms and
legs, gently in through your

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00:01:11,370 --> 00:01:19,460
heart.
Gently out through your body, in

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through your heart, out through
your body.

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And now let's begin.
This story is called Christmas

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Coziness, and it's about the
warmth that a home can hold, the

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space to just be and hot
chocolate.

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It's dark by the time we come
back into the living room for

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the evening.
Christmas Day has moved through

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00:01:58,390 --> 00:02:02,950
the house, leaving its evidence
in quieter forms.

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00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:09,750
The earlier movement has settled
with loved ones off to their own

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00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:16,100
homes to send young ones to bed.
The tree lights are on and will

24
00:02:16,110 --> 00:02:18,940
continue to be lit for days to
come.

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00:02:20,070 --> 00:02:23,300
Beneath them, the gifts are no
longer wrapped.

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Pretty boxes sit open, lids
tucked underneath to display

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what's inside.
Tissue paper folded for reuse on

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another occasion.
New things have been arranged

29
00:02:39,250 --> 00:02:43,820
carefully, showcasing the
generosity of the season.

30
00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:48,820
It feels good to be home, just
the two of us.

31
00:02:49,620 --> 00:02:54,790
The hosts holds warmth from
earlier cooking, from people

32
00:02:54,800 --> 00:03:00,490
moving through the rooms, from
the low hum of being used fully

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00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:05,270
and well.
The kittens are everywhere at

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00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:10,210
once, with energy that seems to
find them at the end of each

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day.
New toys dot the floor, bright

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00:03:14,690 --> 00:03:18,970
shapes that slide and roll when
battered by tiny paws.

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00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:26,070
They scamper across the rug,
leap and skid slightly, recover

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00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,390
and take off with each other
again.

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00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:35,410
Every so often, one stops
suddenly and looks around, as if

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00:03:35,420 --> 00:03:40,810
surprised to still be here.
We choose a record from the

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00:03:40,820 --> 00:03:43,700
small stack beside the
turntable.

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They're new gifts, opened
earlier in the day, sleeves

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00:03:49,260 --> 00:03:53,840
still crisp.
I take one out carefully,

44
00:03:53,910 --> 00:03:58,980
holding it by the edges, which
feels like a mindful check in

45
00:03:59,050 --> 00:04:05,490
each time the task is performed.
The records sits softly on the

46
00:04:05,500 --> 00:04:09,410
felt pad and the arm lowers into
place.

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00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:15,690
The music begins faintly and
gently fills the room at a

48
00:04:15,700 --> 00:04:18,829
volume that feels appropriate
for the evening.

49
00:04:20,550 --> 00:04:24,720
We sit on the Chesterfield,
close enough to support each

50
00:04:24,730 --> 00:04:27,860
other, leaning in shoulder to
shoulder.

51
00:04:29,540 --> 00:04:33,050
The day has already had enough
of our attention.

52
00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:40,350
Now there's space to just be.
On the coffee table is a box of

53
00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,740
chocolates, another gift from
earlier.

54
00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:49,190
The lid is open, the paper guide
unfolded beside it.

55
00:04:50,750 --> 00:04:54,340
I smooth the map flat and study
it closely.

56
00:04:55,190 --> 00:04:58,510
I like knowing what's inside
before choosing.

57
00:04:59,990 --> 00:05:05,610
I pick one, then pass it over,
then choose another for myself.

58
00:05:07,060 --> 00:05:10,540
The filling is exactly what it
promised to be.

59
00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:18,410
Sweet, familiar and smooth, the
kittens investigate the box

60
00:05:18,420 --> 00:05:24,110
briefly, noses hovering, then
lose interest when it doesn't

61
00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:30,490
respond, as their toys seem to.
They returned to their play,

62
00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:35,330
dragging strings on sticks
across the floor, inventing

63
00:05:35,340 --> 00:05:37,950
games that only make sense to
them.

64
00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:43,430
The record plays through its
first side.

65
00:05:43,940 --> 00:05:49,230
I get up to turn it over, and
again the motion feels steady,

66
00:05:49,280 --> 00:05:54,700
grounding back under the cozy
throw blanket.

67
00:05:55,090 --> 00:05:58,520
I look again at the area beneath
the tree.

68
00:05:59,530 --> 00:06:05,650
A book rests on top of a box, a
scarf folded neatly beside it.

69
00:06:06,820 --> 00:06:11,790
Everything has a place, even if
that place is temporary.

70
00:06:12,980 --> 00:06:17,270
There's comfort in seeing the
day's excitement settled into

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00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:24,170
order, arranged just so.
The kittens slowed down now,

72
00:06:24,500 --> 00:06:27,730
their energy spent in uneven
bursts.

73
00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:33,830
One curls up near the tree,
lights reflecting faintly in

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00:06:33,840 --> 00:06:38,430
soft fur.
The other stretches out beside a

75
00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:43,790
toy, one paw resting on it as if
claiming it for later.

76
00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:51,250
Their breathing evens out as we
watch them with smiles, finding

77
00:06:51,260 --> 00:06:55,470
it funny how they can be
entertaining even in sleep.

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00:06:57,340 --> 00:07:02,070
The record finishes and lifts
gently, and the room sits

79
00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:06,730
quietly.
After a while, we head to the

80
00:07:06,740 --> 00:07:12,250
kitchen to make hot chocolate.
The mugs are new, too.

81
00:07:12,580 --> 00:07:17,510
Gifts Sweet opened that morning,
needing only a bit of time to

82
00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:23,560
become familiar in our hands.
I set them on the counter and

83
00:07:23,570 --> 00:07:28,890
opened the packets.
One is hazelnut, the other is

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00:07:28,900 --> 00:07:33,180
mint, flavoured to taste like
after 8 chocolates.

85
00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:40,550
The milk is heated carefully
staring, watching for steam

86
00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:46,060
rather than bubbles.
The powders colour deepens as

87
00:07:46,070 --> 00:07:50,350
the mugs are filled.
We carry our drinks to the

88
00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:54,790
living room and cozy ourselves
back into our nest.

89
00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,020
The heat warms my hands
immediately.

90
00:07:59,980 --> 00:08:05,370
The hazelnut smells good too but
the after 8 flavour was my

91
00:08:05,380 --> 00:08:10,820
choice for to night.
I take small sips, letting the

92
00:08:10,830 --> 00:08:13,650
warmth settle in every part of
me.

93
00:08:15,450 --> 00:08:20,340
Outside, the night grows colder
and we imagine our guests

94
00:08:20,350 --> 00:08:22,980
getting comfy in their own
homes.

95
00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:30,030
The music resumes with another
record chosen for its slow pace,

96
00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:35,360
like the one before it.
When the first notes are heard,

97
00:08:35,549 --> 00:08:40,059
I'm offered a hand as an
invitation to have this dance.

98
00:08:41,020 --> 00:08:45,370
I accept with an imperfect twirl
into open arms.

99
00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:51,550
The kittens shift in their
sleeping spots, noticing the

100
00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:56,430
movement and laughter.
They watch only briefly before

101
00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:02,600
closing their eyes again.
The tree lights glow steadily,

102
00:09:02,850 --> 00:09:05,850
lighting up the dance floor just
enough.

103
00:09:07,270 --> 00:09:11,720
We're soon ready to sit back
down into the relaxation that

104
00:09:11,730 --> 00:09:14,300
the end of Christmas Day can
offer.

105
00:09:15,740 --> 00:09:18,590
I lean back and let my shoulders
drop.

106
00:09:19,820 --> 00:09:24,530
I take another sip of hot
chocolate and let the sweetness

107
00:09:24,540 --> 00:09:29,050
linger.
The record reaches the end of

108
00:09:29,060 --> 00:09:33,620
its side and stops.
I don't rush to turn it over.

109
00:09:34,390 --> 00:09:37,900
The silence that follows feels
just as good.

110
00:09:37,910 --> 00:09:44,190
Sometimes we sit with it,
letting the evening stretch on.

111
00:09:45,950 --> 00:09:48,930
I'm happy with the day as it
played out.

112
00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:55,840
The gifts have been opened and
appreciated, the meals eaten

113
00:09:55,910 --> 00:10:01,880
with leftovers for days, the
time shared with those we love.

114
00:10:02,850 --> 00:10:08,500
What remains is this moment,
sitting here with the warmth of

115
00:10:08,510 --> 00:10:14,390
a yummy drink, my love so
content beside me and the

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00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:20,390
kittens sleeping deeply nearby.
The tree lights will be turned

117
00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,590
off before bed, but not just
yet.

118
00:10:24,510 --> 00:10:28,890
For now, they stay on,
reflecting softly in the

119
00:10:28,900 --> 00:10:33,780
windows, reminding us that it's
still the holiday season.

120
00:10:35,220 --> 00:10:41,140
We linger and revel in the
comfort of being home and in the

121
00:10:41,150 --> 00:10:50,560
satisfaction that comes from a
day well lived Christmas

122
00:10:50,570 --> 00:10:57,110
coziness.
It's dark by the time we come

123
00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:00,040
back into the living room for
the evening.

124
00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:06,330
Christmas Day has moved through
the house, leaving its evidence

125
00:11:06,340 --> 00:11:11,710
in quieter forms.
The earlier movement has settled

126
00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:17,230
with loved ones off to their own
homes to send young ones to bed.

127
00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:23,390
The tree lights are on and will
continue to be lit for days to

128
00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:27,150
come.
Beneath them, the gifts are no

129
00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:32,120
longer wrapped.
Pretty boxes sit open, lids

130
00:11:32,130 --> 00:11:35,320
tucked underneath to display
what's inside.

131
00:11:36,210 --> 00:11:40,470
Tissue paper folded for reuse on
another occasion.

132
00:11:41,970 --> 00:11:46,530
New things have been arranged
carefully, showcasing the

133
00:11:46,540 --> 00:11:52,840
generosity of the season.
It feels good to be home, just

134
00:11:52,850 --> 00:11:57,030
the two of us.
The hosts holds warmth from

135
00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:02,470
earlier cooking, from people
moving through the rooms, from

136
00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:06,230
the low hum of being used fully
and well.

137
00:12:08,090 --> 00:12:13,130
The kittens are everywhere at
once, with energy that seems to

138
00:12:13,140 --> 00:12:15,530
find them at the end of each
day.

139
00:12:16,530 --> 00:12:22,040
New toys dot the floor, bright
shapes that slide and roll when

140
00:12:22,050 --> 00:12:27,370
battered by tiny paws.
They scamper across the rug,

141
00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:32,750
leap and skid slightly, recover
and take off with each other

142
00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:37,370
again.
Every so often, one stops

143
00:12:37,380 --> 00:12:42,230
suddenly and looks around, as if
surprised to still be here.

144
00:12:43,890 --> 00:12:47,400
We choose a record from the
small stack beside the

145
00:12:47,410 --> 00:12:51,420
turntable.
They're new gifts, opened

146
00:12:51,430 --> 00:12:55,100
earlier in the day, sleeves
still crisp.

147
00:12:56,340 --> 00:13:01,670
I take one out carefully,
holding it by the edges, which

148
00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:06,460
feels like a mindful check in
each time the task is performed.

149
00:13:08,090 --> 00:13:13,700
The records sits softly on the
felt pad and the arm lowers into

150
00:13:13,710 --> 00:13:18,350
place.
The music begins faintly and

151
00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,770
gently fills the room at a
volume that feels appropriate

152
00:13:22,780 --> 00:13:27,600
for the evening.
We sit on the Chesterfield,

153
00:13:27,650 --> 00:13:32,140
close enough to support each
other, leaning in shoulder to

154
00:13:32,150 --> 00:13:36,710
shoulder.
The day has already had enough

155
00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,890
of our attention.
Now there's space to just be.

156
00:13:42,760 --> 00:13:48,010
On the coffee table is a box of
chocolates, another gift from

157
00:13:48,020 --> 00:13:52,480
earlier.
The lid is open, the paper guide

158
00:13:52,490 --> 00:13:57,880
unfolded beside it.
I smoothed the map flat and

159
00:13:57,890 --> 00:14:02,270
study it closely.
I like knowing what's inside

160
00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:07,600
before choosing.
I pick one, then pass it over,

161
00:14:07,990 --> 00:14:14,050
then choose another for myself.
The filling is exactly what it

162
00:14:14,060 --> 00:14:20,820
promised to be.
Sweet, familiar and smooth, the

163
00:14:20,830 --> 00:14:27,060
kittens investigate the box
briefly, noses hovering, then

164
00:14:27,070 --> 00:14:31,560
lose interest when it doesn't
respond, as their toys seem to.

165
00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:37,790
They returned to their play,
dragging strings on sticks

166
00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,390
across the floor, inventing
games that only make sense to

167
00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:46,990
them.
The record plays through its

168
00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:51,450
first side.
I get up to turn it over, and

169
00:14:51,460 --> 00:14:58,440
again the motion feels steady,
grounding back under the cozy

170
00:14:58,450 --> 00:15:02,660
throw blanket.
I look again at the area beneath

171
00:15:02,670 --> 00:15:07,890
the tree.
A book rests on top of a box, a

172
00:15:07,900 --> 00:15:14,770
scarf folded neatly beside it.
Everything has a place, even if

173
00:15:14,780 --> 00:15:19,850
that place is temporary.
There's comfort in seeing the

174
00:15:19,860 --> 00:15:24,880
day's excitement settled into
order, arranged just so.

175
00:15:26,670 --> 00:15:31,960
The kittens slowed down now,
their energy spent in uneven

176
00:15:31,970 --> 00:15:35,920
bursts.
One curls up near the tree,

177
00:15:36,390 --> 00:15:39,810
lights reflecting faintly in
soft fur.

178
00:15:41,150 --> 00:15:46,920
The other stretches out beside a
toy, one paw resting on it as if

179
00:15:46,930 --> 00:15:53,060
claiming it for later.
Their breathing evens out as we

180
00:15:53,070 --> 00:15:57,860
watch them with smiles, finding
it funny how they can be

181
00:15:57,870 --> 00:16:04,760
entertaining even in sleep.
The record finishes and lifts

182
00:16:04,770 --> 00:16:07,810
gently, and the room sits
quietly.

183
00:16:09,710 --> 00:16:13,880
After a while, we head to the
kitchen to make hot chocolate.

184
00:16:15,150 --> 00:16:19,920
The mugs are new, too.
Gifts sweet open that morning.

185
00:16:20,210 --> 00:16:26,390
Needing only a bit of time to
become familiar in our hands, I

186
00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,700
set them on the counter and
opened the packets.

187
00:16:30,810 --> 00:16:36,420
One is hazelnut, the other is
mint, flavoured to taste like

188
00:16:36,430 --> 00:16:42,390
after 8 chocolates.
The milk is heated carefully

189
00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:47,030
staring, watching for steam
rather than bubbles.

190
00:16:48,450 --> 00:16:52,290
The powders colour deepens as
the mugs are filled.

191
00:16:53,300 --> 00:16:57,930
We carry our drinks to the
living room and cozy ourselves

192
00:16:57,940 --> 00:17:03,050
back into our nest.
The heat warms my hands

193
00:17:03,060 --> 00:17:08,089
immediately.
The hazelnut smells good too but

194
00:17:08,099 --> 00:17:11,609
the after 8 flavour was my
choice for to night.

195
00:17:12,910 --> 00:17:18,240
I take small sips, letting the
warmth settle in every part of

196
00:17:18,250 --> 00:17:23,050
me.
Outside, the night grows colder

197
00:17:23,180 --> 00:17:27,230
and we imagine our guests
getting comfy in their own

198
00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:31,430
homes.
The music resumes with another

199
00:17:31,440 --> 00:17:36,470
record chosen for its slow pace,
like the one before it.

200
00:17:37,940 --> 00:17:42,250
When the first notes are heard,
I'm offered a hand as an

201
00:17:42,260 --> 00:17:48,840
invitation to have this dance.
I accept with an imperfect twirl

202
00:17:48,850 --> 00:17:53,680
into open arms.
The kittens shift in their

203
00:17:53,690 --> 00:17:58,060
sleeping spots, noticing the
movement and laughter.

204
00:17:58,930 --> 00:18:03,090
They watch only briefly before
closing their eyes again.

205
00:18:04,700 --> 00:18:10,250
The tree lights glow steadily,
lighting up the dance floor just

206
00:18:10,260 --> 00:18:14,200
enough.
We're soon ready to sit back

207
00:18:14,210 --> 00:18:18,680
down into the relaxation that
the end of Christmas Day can

208
00:18:18,690 --> 00:18:23,000
offer.
I lean back and let my shoulders

209
00:18:23,010 --> 00:18:26,790
drop.
I take another sip of hot

210
00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,050
chocolate and let the sweetness
linger.

211
00:18:31,750 --> 00:18:35,570
The record reaches the end of
its side and stops.

212
00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:41,830
I don't rush to turn it over.
The silence that follows feels

213
00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:46,520
just as good.
Sometimes we sit with it,

214
00:18:46,810 --> 00:18:53,010
letting the evening stretch on.
I'm happy with the day as it

215
00:18:53,020 --> 00:18:57,120
played out.
The gifts have been opened and

216
00:18:57,130 --> 00:19:04,350
appreciated, the meals eaten
with leftovers for days, the

217
00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:10,280
time shared with those we love.
What remains is this moment,

218
00:19:10,910 --> 00:19:16,600
sitting here with the warmth of
a yummy drink, my love so

219
00:19:16,610 --> 00:19:22,030
content beside me and the
kittens sleeping deeply nearby.

220
00:19:23,420 --> 00:19:28,120
The tree lights will be turned
off before bed, but not just

221
00:19:28,130 --> 00:19:31,350
yet.
For now, they stay on,

222
00:19:31,660 --> 00:19:36,690
reflecting softly in the
windows, reminding us that it's

223
00:19:36,700 --> 00:19:42,440
still the holiday season.
We linger and revel in the

224
00:19:42,450 --> 00:19:48,590
comfort of being home and in the
satisfaction that comes from a

225
00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:55,600
day well lived.
I wish you sweet dreams and

226
00:19:55,610 --> 00:19:58,890
Merry Christmas and Happy
Holidays.