Look Left, Look Right, Step Forward by the Gent

I enter the closet and a bunch of artificial holly, ribbons and smiling faces with beards are staring at me. ‘Tis that season again. There is an aura of what is good and what it means to feel happy. Ho, ho, ho jingles are in your head. You even feel like singing a Christmas song or two. You start taking out the ornaments and some "old holiday friends" appear. Santa Claus figures that have been around for over 50 years are still as statuesque as ever. There are Xmas tree ornaments with years like 1979, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2010 written somewhere on them. You read them and smile. Wow, has time gone by that quickly. All those years have passed. Still your old friends, the Santas, snowmen, reindeer, ornaments and nativity sets remain just as eager as ever for you to display them. Don’t I wish life could resemble the warm feelings that come out of those boxes? I am happy the “Holiday Season” is here. There were years when I could only muster a card and a “Dollar Store” gift and there were years when I could afford the expensive bracelet or necklace that she always wanted. Now, sitting down with a “slightly spiked” eggnog. I am staring at the Scotch Pine tree, all lit up with my dear ‘friends’ draping ornately on its branches. The ups and downs of my life all there for me to reminisce. Wishing you all, a healthy, happy, Magical, Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year.