For all of its not-goodness, 2021 ended nicely for me when I assisted in the construction of a gingerbread house. The kit came with already-baked walls and roof panels, somehow edible until June of this year, that only required a minimum of assembly before the goodies were applied. After I did the set-up, it looked like this: ​Yes, that’s load-bearing icing and plenty of it. Then the little ones came in—six-years-old and nine-years-old, girl and boy—to finish the hard part of the job. The decorating! The finished product lasted long enough for a couple of photos and congratulations from Mom and Stepdad. 
​Then the devouring began. My devouring days are over, but the wee ones attacked the house, gorfing the gumdrops and pretty bits just as quickly as you’d imagine. I wish I’d taken an after pic of the destruction.
 
2021 hadn’t quite concluded when, returning home, my guy and I did a store run. Christmas items were already discounted by fifty percent of their original price. Yes, this means shoppers could pick up the Holiday Time Toilet Golf Game for a sweet five bucks. Grabbing my phone, I discovered that there are multiple companies that make toilet-based putting games. I know, right? Amazon is missing out on the Holiday Time version, but they’d be happy to sell you the Potty Putter Toilet Golf Game for a hefty $19.99. The toy has almost 4,000 ratings (4.5 out of 5 stars), there are nineteen answered questions—Q: Do I have to tip the caddy? A: Depends on how bad your game stinks—and it’s Amazon’s #1 Best Seller in Golf Putters.
 
I was astonished. I thought it was the most ridiculous thing ever until I saw my writing partner reach for his wallet.
 
“I wonder how long it will take me to play eighteen holes,” he said.