The temps are 65 degrees, buds are on the trees.
I feel the need to water all I’ve planted in degrees. 

Personally, I hate it!  Why is it so warm?
Reminds me of my college days, too hot in the dorm!  

Alas, I do my duty, cherishing the earth, 
doing my best to spread the joy…and substantial mirth.  (Obviously!)

I truly wish it would snow!  I hate this brown display.  
It’s Colorado and  December - what else  can I say?  

The star is falling off my tree, and half my lights are lit.
The wind destroyed my outdoor decor, it really took a hit.
A stack of Christmas cards awaits, perhaps to send next year?  
Though I could start addressing them, with perhaps a glass of cheer?

Alas, I’d rather write a poem, an ode to this crazy time.
It’s way more fun to sit and ponder, finding words to rhyme.
The cooking and that cleaning?  It can all be done tomorrow.
Oops!  I need some crockpots, I know just whose to borrow!

Maybe I’ll just make a list of what needs to be done,
It will feel productive and sounds like much more fun. 
Christmas nears and so do fears that I will miss a beat.
It’s time to focus on the peace, let worries take a back seat.

And so I’ll put my jammies on, watch the football game.
Take a break and check my mail, just do something lame.
In the end it all works out, on that my hope depends!
Of course, I couldn’t do it without the help of family and friends.

Apparently there were drones flying all around us, as well as the annual world-wide Santa-thon happening right in the heart of the city. Thousands of red figures supposedly blanketing the city. I guess we were too focused on watching where we stepped and avoiding Thoreau’s “mass of men.” It was a tad over-crowded this holiday season.

Imagine my disappointment upon returning when I read that Milan’s Via MonteNapoleone has claimed the title of the world’s most expensive retail destination? Here we went to NYC just to shop on Fifth Avenue, the now former world title holder. It rankles the nerves.

We have all alighted upon our separate abodes, luggage perhaps a little heavier than before, but not enough to set off alarms. The people we elbowed and followed like a raft of penguins crossing the ocean were all in good spirits, most laughing at the absolute absurdity of so many humans waiting in lines for bag checks at venues, restaurant reservations, banana pudding. It did give us a feeling of warmth being packed so tightly – literally. It was cold. Have I mentioned that before?

And then – I return to 50 degree plus weather – and the internal thermostat has to reregister. I’m like the pear trees. They shed all of their leaves a week ago in the cold, only to begin budding again yesterday. Thank you for the reversal, Mother Nature. I would have hated to have missed it!

Of course we wanted to have banana pudding at Magnolia Bakery, who wouldn’t? I was game for a bite to eat and a spot of tea. We had just enjoyed the MOMA and were ready to sit a bit, even if we had to wait in line outside of the famous bakery and enjoy more cheerful banter with the non-locals itching to eat some banana pudding, too.

”Stay out! You have to keep both doors closed until you can enter without holding one door open!” “Get in this line if you want banana pudding only. Order a drink here and then go in the banana pudding line and pay and then come back here.” I think the banana pudding lady enjoyed barking the same thing over and over, even though I helpfully suggested a sign would go far in maintaining her vocal health. Well, who wouldn’t feel welcome in such a fine establishment approximately six feet wide by 12 feet in length, accommodating two lanes of banana pudding traffic? Our crowning achievement was the request for water – at the cash register. The money girl sent us back in the pudding line to get water, offered for free. “Do we have water? Where?” “You have to put ice in the cup and then add the hot water, that’s all we have.”

We got our waters and left the pudding line for good, only to have to find an outdoor dining table. Al fresco in December in New York. How refreshing to sit on a cold metal chair while the Salvation Army Santa danced and played “Feliz Navidad” ad nauseum. We scarfed banana pudding and headed to our next cultural event, buoyed by the cheerful and thoughtful people at Magnolia Bakery.

Tonight the Addams Family dined by us in the corner of our Irish pub, and Severus Snape was the seating host. New York City is so interesting.

We are intent on spreading good cheer everywhere we go, and my niece is so good at thanking everyone we encounter. They are thrilled to be noticed! The guy cleaning the table, the person seating us in the theater, the ignorant pedestrian bumping into her…she is so polite and kind! Guess what? Everyone else responds likewise.

The city is filled with carbon copies of us…people here to enjoy the Christmas displays and shows, thus, people who are in good spirits. We are happily joking, making friends, inviting others to sit by us, in general, being decent human beings.

And even though this city never sleeps, we are desperately hoping to do that tonight. It takes a good amount of ambient noise to drown out the city sounds.

My app should do the trick! That and the beer I had at the performance this evening.

Last night my sis and I attended the Christkindlmarkt near her home. It was a step up from Denver’s, I’ll tell you that! Same general idea but much nicer than the Civic Center Park display.

The area had three cute little warming huts which could host six people comfortably. It was cold. Thus, my sister and I invited ourselves into two different barrel-shaped huts with two different families at two different moments between freezing our buns off. We enjoyed our food with the first family and shared cheerful banter. After ducking through the circular entrance (think Hobbit house size) we went out in search of a true German Christmas drink – bier.

Walking around and finding ourselves chilled yet again, (who drinks an ice cold beer in freezing temperatures?) we found some new people to entertain. I’m pretty sure they were delighted with our appearance in their hut. It was quite cozy, so we stayed after they left and kept inviting others to join us, with one couple willing to gamble on our kind gesture.

People asked us how they could get a hut like ours, assuming you rented them or acquired them through an elaborate scheme.

“We just wormed our way into people’s hearts.” Off we go to worm our way into the hearts of fellow travelers!

My sister’s house is so welcoming and beautiful this Christmas, as is “Pat’s” and “Pann’s.” I haven’t seen anyone else’s homes yet…perhaps yours is just as gorgeous? I’d ask you to invite me over to assess but we’re short on time this holiday season, especially since I’m traveling!

Yesterday I left Denver in the freezing cold to fly halfway to the Big Apple before arriving for the Christmas extravaganza weekend! My niece, “Palysun,” my sister and I are doing it right: the tree at Rockefeller, the Rockettes, Broadway, MOMA… My sister is hosting me, even though she is currently working and ignoring me. I am just admiring her decor and contemplating what I left this morning: laundry not put away, toys still strewn, full dishwasher, my shoes littering the mud room, and yes, the leaves which finally fell off the trees yesterday. They have blanketed the driveway and porch, awaiting my return to finish fall cleaning.

NYC, here we come!

The only coveted toy my grandparents had under the stairs in “the box” was the Etch A Sketch. 30 plus grandkids hoping for a turn taught us a lot!

You found something else. Either you found something to make the others jealous of your exploits, or you just truly found something else or someone else that satisfied the moment. Nobody paid any attention to us so we were on our own as far as entertainment. Those aunts and uncles showed us how to enjoy time with the ones they were with, their peers.

By the way, I always tried to find something to make the others follow me. Some new game, idea, adventure, whatever. Surprise!

When you awaken and catch the 4:57 a.m. delivery of the antiquated form of communication being dropped on your driveway, and your excitement builds at realizing the puzzle will be a challenge, it’s important to listen to the words in your head.

I went out early morning to retrieve the newspaper and was treated to the breathtaking view of a clear star-splattered sky. This poem came to mind, particularly the third stanza, and I figured there’s a reason! I share with you again, as I’m certain I have shared this before.

i thank you God for most this amazing

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any-lifted from the no
of all nothing-human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

eecummings

This Polly Pockets are currently at the scene of the Nativity substituting for the wisemen before their arrival. Two pink plastic bowling balls, rather than rum balls, are greeting visitors at the front door. A koala bear keeps watch under the Christmas tree, diverting attention from the baubles beckoning the hands of little ones. The ‘keepy uppy” balloon has been popped, just to lessen the stress of its eventual bursting with a toddler’s teeth. The jingle bell necklace is now adorning the reindeer on the buffet so as not to knock someone’s teeth out in its swinging to and fro. The table runner is no longer within reach of little hands who attempted to pull it off with decor and all attached. And the window seat, usually festooned with beautiful ornaments, lights, possibly candles? Empty.

We are decoratively ready for the season. “Peace,” be unto all.