My First Christmas Away From Home

Posted Dec 25, 2006 by Aaron Knox

Updated Dec 25, 2006 at 12:08 PM

SAN FRANCISCO—After 35-plus years of living, I’ve collected a few life experiences by now. I’ve eaten sushi, been bitten by a dog, been to Europe, and stood at the top of the Empire State Building and looked down at the rest of the world. But until today, I’d never been away from home and family on Christmas day. So, needless to say, when I woke up at 6:30 this morning West Coast time, the feeling was a bit strange.

I had no Christmas gifts to open and nobody to say Merry Christmas to in person. Of course, shortly after waking up my phone started ringing and in a span of an hour, I had talked to my wife, my mom, my dad, my grandmother and my Shih Tzu, Sadie. While being away from home on Christmas might seem lonely, I’m not alone covering the Emerald Bowl during the holidays. Three other beat writers from Florida newspapers are out here and more are on the way to cover Florida State’s game against UCLA on Wednesday at AT&T Park, noted more for Barry Bonds’ home runs than football.

All things considered, it could be a lot worse. When I’m on the road working, one of the first things I like to do in the morning is get up and walk to the nearest newstand and coffee shop to grab the local newspapers. Today, as I scampered down Powell Street toward a newstand that sells about every newspaper in California, I passed more than one guy sleeping on the sidewalk in the cold morning air. That’s certainly no way to spend Christmas morning. Anyway, I finally found my way to the newstand and got my coffee and newspapers and headed back to my nice and warm hotel room.

Soon after getting back to my room, I ordered room service breakfast and started reading the newspapers. Soon, I realized my first Christmas away from home wasn’t so bad after all. They don’t offer room service when you’re sleeping on a sidewalk.