Wishlist
Christmas morning, sneaking downstairs
Christmas Eve, pulling at Mom’s curlers in my hair wrestling into tights, bundled in the car, dragging my finger across the frosted window Dashing into pajamas, but not before Mom coaxes us into one more photo, in front of the Family Room tree— and maybe one more with the Living Room tree Fontanini’s Nativity set is rearranged as I marry Biblical characters underneath the grotto, paired with newly adopted sheep pulled from the manger Digging through homemade oatmeal cookies packaged in parchment paper, clutching my teddy bear as George Bailey peers over the bridge Reindeer like carrots, I tell my parents as I gather a couple handfuls to leave in our snow-blanketed front yard Crossing my fingers, praying for a weenie dog in the morning, wriggling underneath a bed of red and green ribbons Christmas morning, sneaking downstairs as the sun slowly rubs its eyes and stretches its rays across the sky, yawning to welcome another frost-bitten sunrise Presents wrapped colorfully underneath the glowing Christmas tree, reflecting the tiny bulbs to create miniature spotlights, highlighting a dazzling haze of warmth cloaked across the room, the other side illuminated by the fish tank, creating a clashing medley of colors **** Someday soon, we all will be together, if the fates allow becomes a plea instead of a carol, as miles between us outnumber the years spent living under the same roof



Merry Christmas, so nice to see your writing again!!