I just love it when my two worlds collide. My years spent living in England and those spent living here in Louisiana are very different. It’s almost as though I am two different people who have lived two different lives. That’s why, when something happens to make these two worlds collide, well, let’s just say it’s quite an experience.

Around 6:30 a.m. Dec. 11, it happened again. Driving from home to work I couldn’t help but wonder if I was back in England.

The entire scenery, so familiar due to my daily commute, was completely different. Fields, the roofs of homes and cars were covered with a soft layer of snow.

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Oh the memories that trip evoked. For about a couple of hours at least I, and all my coworkers were introduced to the kind of winter wonderland magic that Christmas cards are made of.

It didn’t last long, but long enough to recharge my Christmas spirit and fervently hope the cold weather would stick around for just a couple more weeks.

It even prompted me to get my Christmas shopping finished, instead of making my usual dash to the stores on Christmas Eve.

Which reminds me of a story about my late, mad dash to get Christmas shopping finished ...

’Twas the day before Christmas and all through the store, late shoppers were buying the stuff off the floor.

Dolls out of boxes, books open face down, no triple-A batteries anywhere in town.

I looked at my list, I was down to just four, so I bought what was left and walked out of the door.

But something was wrong, something unknown and I wouldn’t find what, until I got home.

But with luck on my side, when I stopped to buy bread, a big gaping hole turned my feeling to dread.

The sign was still there, “turkeys for sale,” if I went home without one, would they send me to jail?

Christmas dinner’s not right with nothing but chicken, I looked at my watch — almost five and still ticking.

Maybe a ham, roast beef or some fish, could I make them believe in this Christmas dish?

But I knew in my heart nothing but turkey would do, so I jumped in my car, tried store No. 2.

Turkeys, turkeys, turkeys to spare, once more I was saved, I hadn’t a care.

The house was all dark when I pulled in the drive, my watch was still ticking, but still just past five.

Sneaking the gifts to my room was the plan, if I could get past the cats, the dog and the man.

But no one was there, I was home free and clear, time to wrap gifts, I had no fear.

Only two left, I was feeling content, when I suddenly remembered my former intent.

When searching for turkey, I bypassed the bread, what else was I missing, where was my head?

I checked all my lists and to my delight, bread was the only thing we would not bite.

Now the turkey is snug and warm in his pot, the gifts are all wrapped for son and grand-tots.

The house is now quiet, the animals asleep, all the gifts bright and sparkling lie in a heap.

The only thing left to make it all right, is to wish  you all a Merry Christmas — and to all a good night.

Jennifer E. May is Teche Life editor of The Daily Iberian.