Toasty.. from a few weeks ago

It was one of those nights, cold and dreary. The mood around the house had been somber for days. Mr. Man had been grieving the sudden loss of a colleague and friend who passed away from a heart attack at the young age of 43. Mr. Man was at the funeral, while I was stuck at home with two kids who were constantly bickering. I just felt like we all needed a little indulging in life's simple pleasures. Something to lift the mood... I built a fire in the fireplace, using my mediocre girl scout skills. It took several attempts, but I finally got it going long enough to roast marshmallows and make smores.
The fire seemed to melt away the sadness, the bickering, and helped lift the mood. Have you ever noticed that people are more prone to open up and talk in front of a fire? The kids were asking deep philosphical questions intermixed with goofy ones. Why do people die at different ages? Why do frogs start out as tadpoles? Are donkeys and horses cousins? We made two smores for Mr. Man and kept them warm in the oven for when he arrived home. There's something about sticky fingers and mouths ringed with chocolate that lifts the mood and heals the spirit.