On the Eve of Christmas' Eve

There's an Eve of Christmas Eve snow shower gently falling. The back of the jeep is full of presents, beautifully wrapped thanks be to the Better Half. Sometime soon we'll deliver them to the new home the Daughter Person and Son-In-Law will be sharing for their first Christmas in their own house. If all goes as well as Thanksgiving went, it will be a joyful day indeed, compounded by the fact that, as per prior years, Christmas will end at mid-day so the rest of the day can be properly focused on our son's [Daughter Person's brother, Son-In-Law's Brother-In-Law] birthday. Our Better Half did her best to not do the "Christmas birthday" to our son, but he simply refused to cooperate.

a "Charlie Brown tree" snuggled by presents

Photo by J. Harrington

Our own little Charlie Brown Christmas tree, the one we lopped from the southern edge of our driveway, is looking happier now that it's snuggled amongst pretty presents to be opened on Christmas morning. This year we even have presents on the tree. (Most versions of the Christmas song "I'll Be Home for Christmas" have lyrics that are sung "presents on the tree." Some, though, say "'neath," others "by," and yet others "under." We much prefer the original, Bing Crosby version, in which he sings "on the tree.")

Somehow, this season, we've missed watching a Charlie Brown Christmas, along with several other standards such as "It's a Wonderful Life." We suppose it's possible that, having seen each of those a couple of dozen times over the years, missing one or seeing one twenty-five times doesn't make much difference. We're still getting into the spirit of the season and, once again, trying to figure out how to make it last year 'round, even among those who don't celebrate Christmas but still have mid-Winter celebrations such as Hanukkah, Saturnalia, Solstice and a number of others. Peace and joy and warmth and health and love and enough food and clean water can and should be shared by all, all of the time. Shall we try yet again?

[little tree]

By E. E. Cummings

little tree 

little silent Christmas tree 

you are so little 

you are more like a flower 

who found you in the green forest 

and were you very sorry to come away? 

see          i will comfort you 

because you smell so sweetly 

i will kiss your cool bark 

and hug you safe and tight 

just as your mother would, 

only don't be afraid 

look          the spangles 

that sleep all the year in a dark box 

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine, 

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads, 

put up your little arms 

and i'll give them all to you to hold 

every finger shall have its ring 

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy 

then when you're quite dressed 

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see 

and how they'll stare! 

oh but you'll be very proud 

and my little sister and i will take hands 

and looking up at our beautiful tree 

we'll dance and sing 

"Noel Noel" 

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