With apologies, Clement

It’s the night before Christmas, and all through our house,
We’re doing pretty much nothing – just lazing around (but don’t get me started on yesterday! I made a sweet potato casserole, scalloped potatoes, a four-bean salad, a batch of chocolate Chex candy mix, bought stocking stuffers, finished holiday shopping, wrapped presents, prepared a grocery list, and washed tons of dishes…)

The stockings are hanging at my mom’s with care
And we’ll soon be making our annual trip there (on Christmas eve, that is…we really go there about every Sunday, because as Ryan always likes to remind me, if it weren’t for Grandma, he would have never gotten a home cooked meal while he was growing up)
Where we open the stuffers; giggle, ooh and ahhh over the typical fare…
I usually get socks, candy and something pretty to wear,
And John gets Chapstick, Pepto Bismol (and some odd car or household gadget that sits in the garage for a year)
Ryan gets cash, a pair of undershorts or two, a gas card, a bag of Sour Patch Kids and a book card for school

While we eat dinner, the doggies are nestled all snug on their faux lamb skin beds,
And visions of Dentabones dance around in their heads
(Btw, today was especially good for Tuffy, because he got leftover scrambled eggs…which is his favorite. He always knows when we make eggs, and he stands and barks at us until we give him some.)

We’ll then head back home and prepare for our nap,
And won’t wake all night - in spite of the clatter…
We’ll know it’s just Santa, trying to do his job well
So we’ll leave him some cookies and treats for his elves
Of course the reindeer will be hungry, so we’ll leave them some kibble
And be grateful for anything Santa decides to leave on our table…
(Or under the tree, but that didn’t really rhyme too well - but when you think about it, table and kibble? Writing poetry is hard work!)

We’ll awake in the morning, take our showers n' get dressed
And sit with each other knowing that we are blessed.
With good family and friends and health and good will
And a few holiday meals where we’ll eat more than our fill

We’ll think about the year behind us,
And the year that lies ahead,
Look at our son, our parents and sigh -
Totally amazed at just how quickly time really does fly…

And how important it is
For us to enjoy every minute…
Because life is for living; time is not for wasting, and
Love is something to cherish and share in our life
And with everyone in it –

So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Years, too -
I truly hope that 2009 will be very special for you.

Sugar Cookie

It's that time of year - the sky darkens before dinner, wet rain turned snow begins to blow horizontally past my window, and Tuffy thinks twice before heading out the door. About now, I want to grab my pink blanket (which I've had for longer than I care to admit), hunker down on the couch (4th grade) and read a good book.

But, thankfully, this time of year also brings (it's a two tone pink, by the way) my Aunt Treva's sugar cookies.

I always look forward to going to her house for Thanksgiving or Christmas to enjoy these soft, heavenly, sugary cut-outs in the shapes of circles, stars, Christmas trees and Santa - some plain and some with white icing on top. She brings them to the table in a large container where they're carefully stacked between layers of wax paper. And I can barely contain myself. Her sugar cookies have been a constant, a tradition, for as far back as I can remember...

The year I got my driver's license? Those sugar cookies were probably taken a bit for granted. The year I graduated from college and moved out on my own and got my first big RCA television for Christmas? Sugar cookies were consumed in massive quantities. The year I got married? Sugar cookies helped to celebrate and I probably asked for the recipe.

The year I brought home the best Christmas gift of all from the hospital? Sugar cookies were about to be shared with the next generation. The year my Uncle Bud died and the year I got breast cancer? Yes, in both, sugar cookies were there to steadfastly comfort. And this year? The first year that my best Christmas gift ever was not able to come home to enjoy them? Sugar cookies absorbed a tear or two - but more for me!

My legacy to others will never involve food. And perhaps several of you are in the same boat. But to those of you who lovingly, doggedly, and without fail take the time to create once-a-year treats for the rest of us to enjoy?

Thank you. They do much, much more than quench a sweet tooth.

(and its pink satin ribbon edging has long since bit the dust)