Holiday Traditions

Holiday traditions run rampant

Every home different but the same

What food to eat and where to meet

And should we watch the game?

Christmas tree – fake, real or not

Tinsel or garland or just a few lights

Angel, star, Santa or nothing atop

And just when should we put it up?

Some give gifts to everyone, others nary a few

others draw names – who’s got grandpa?

Christmas Eve or after church oh just how long must we wait

Oh please, oh please let me open one early

So whether at home with family and friends

Or far away across many time zones

Enjoy the season, the reason, and the love

And reach out to the rest via your phones!

No Matter What

My 2013 Christmas poem:

No Matter What
No matter what tree you gather around
No matter with whom you sing carols
No matter what gifts you give or you get 
No matter what holiday treats you consume
No matter how many cards you send or receive
What matters …. Is that YOU are Merry this Christmas

Signs of impending festivity:

• Christmas carols resounding non-stop on the radio

• Salvation Army bell ringers stationed at every store entrance

• Giant City Hall trees bedecked with lights

• Parking lots abound with cars circling for an open spot

• Strangers greeting strangers with “Happy Holidays”

• Vacation days marked off on the calendar • Roads overwhelmed with vehicles laden with presents

• The baking of special holiday treats to share with loved ones

• Ugly Christmas sweaters, now in vogue, modeled at work and parties

• Families gathered together to pursue traditions

• Sparkly decorations and icons of Christmas at stores, gas stations doctor’s offices, and of course, home

Let the festivities begin!!

What a year!

What a year …
Like so many
Wrought with drama and celebration
Death and near misses
New and rekindled love
Challenges and achievements
births and new beginnings
Strife and joy
Change, growth, and transition
What a year!
In the end … the good outweighs the bad
In the end … I’m happy not sad.
Happy New Year!

Colors of Christmas

Colors of Christmas
What color is your Christmas?
Bing sings about white Christmas
Elvis about blue, Burl Ives, Silver and Gold
Santa has rosy cheeks and a scarlet coat
holly and Christmas trees - green
Bluebird has gone away
Brown paper packages tied up with strings

A color extravaganza
Not just red and green
Colors significant in all that they mean
My tree is bedecked in traditional colors
But this year I added a few:
Purple for Tri Sigma,
Pink in memory, and
Blue for M go blue
Celebrate and surround yourself with your colors
This day and throughout the year

By Your Side

The first time I slept by your side
I was restless
Unfamiliar, unaccustomed was I
Your presence
Awkward

The next time I slept by your side
It felt “right”
I awoke refreshed
And I smiled when I awoke

Last night when I slept by your side
My head lay on your chest

Our breathing in sync
Our legs intertwined
Tonight I sleep alone, not by your side
The bed is so empty
In the night I awoke
And I reached for you
I vote for more night to sleep by your side

Like the Tide

I lay next to you
My head nestled on your shoulder
Your army pulling me in close
We fall asleep
Through the night
We drift apart
Then we touch and again
Come together
Hand in hand, side by side,
Again we drift
Then find ourselves spooning
Like the tide meeting the shore

Three

3 minutes into our first chat
I was hooked
3 hours into our first date
I was aglow on the dance floor
3 dates in
I couldn’t wait for the next
3 weeks and I’m writing poetry
3 months – the next milestone

Simpler

Life seems simpler
With you ---
The rush and hurry
Fade away
We together –
the world fades away
You – me – together
And in this moment
I am so happy

Our Best Interest

I think it would be in our best interest
To go out
To stay in
To hang out
To chill out
To sleep
To play
To walk in the woods
To search for ghosts
To see a game, a movie, a concert , each other
Yes, I think we should

Never did I expect

Never did I expect
That first date –
Not kept at Paneras
Because we could not wait
Would lead to this…
Now every date …
We anticipate

I like

I like ...
Your playful demeanor
Your cheerful presence
Your sensual touch
Your attention to detail
Your “bad boy” attitude
Your carefree way
Your charming smile

Comfortable

Over and over
One word comes to mind:
COMFORTABLE
- Like an old favorite pair of jeans
- A faded college sweatshirt
- A beloved teddy bear
- An easy boy recliner chair
Comfortable, like two old friends
Meeting for the first time

Thanksgiving 2011

It’s that time of year ….
When we pay attention and focus on that for which we give thanks …
The obvious comes to mind: secure employment, a home, a reliable vehicle, health, love, friendship
The true thanks is in the details:
• A job I love
• My messy home with a great landlord
• My sweet PT Cruiser
• Health insurance for my ailments
• Family near and far
• Friends who make me smile and make me feel special
Life at 50 has been good to me so far! Thanks to all!

BELIEVE

Be happy
Enjoy every moment
Live every day like it was your last
Invest in yourself
Envision all the possibilities
Visualize who you want to be
Experience awesome results

the want

Simply amazing
this feeling of want ...
I've had it before
but with you ...
it's different
more demanding
and an opportunity missed
will leave me wondering, wanting
perhaps even regretting
that I did not give in to my desire
and left now with the wanting
the not knowing
if ever I will get that chance again

Tme and again

Time and tme and time again
life throws a wrench
makes me change my plans
don't get too confident
your life, your love, your work
could tomorrow all be gone
You cannot control
what others say and do.
Only to ourself can you stay true
time and time and time and time again.
I pick myself back up
wipe away a tear or two
anc curse at my badluck
and then I straighten up my back
stick my chin up high
and time and time and time again
begin again my life

Lonely?

Lonely? Me?
Surrounded
non sto
by family, co-workers, and at times friends
I see solace
I seek escape
I see companionship.
I seek communication.
Loney? me?
oh yes

You Never Called

You called me out
-- called my bluff
-- called the kettle black
-- called it like it is
and then
-- you never called

-ation

The saturation
of your infatuation
and your interrogation
of my expectation
of this fraterniztion
raises hesitation
toward my destination
in a mutual relation
- enough explanation