It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

"Yeah, the commercials have been advertising for weeks:
'The most wonderful time of the year is here.'
Sure... Okay...
My feet are killing me...arms are tired.

It's freezing outside...although, I'm sweating.
I'd take off my coat...and my hat...
But it'd just be one more thing to carry!
This line shows no signs of moving soon.

Great, a headache's coming on.
Haven't had a thing to eat all day...
Have I been here that long??
I hope mom likes her gift.
What the heck do you get for someone
who has everything?
She'll probably just exchange it.
Oh... what is taking so long??

Man, thank God I'm not claustrophobic!
Definitely think this woman behind me should've
gotten a babysitter, though.
I know the traffic's murder out there--
It was when I left!
When I get home, I still gotta wrap!

I know I'll feel better though.
I can take off these boots, put on my sweats.
After I've kicked up my feet, the fun can begin:
I'll pet the cat in my lap
While Clarence says "No man is a failure who has friends."
I just love that movie!
Poor uncle Billy has strings around every finger,
but never knows what they're there for!...

Scissors snip and scrape
Scotch tape snaps piece by piece.
Dark green glowing fir stands proudly in the window.
Paper mâché reindeer sit on my kitchen table,
Ready to be covered in glue...red, gold and green
sequins too.
They're my Christmas craft this year!
Shiny garland entwined with lights adorns our
bookshelf, and beady eyes of Teddy bears in Christmas
scarves and sweaters stare intently at me.
They see each present put under the tree, one by one.

Mugs of mint tea sit next to my stack of sealed
Christmas greetings.
Apple cinnamon potpourri? What a great idea!
I forgot the candy canes for the tea!
(You can never have enough peppermint, I say!)

All these warm comforts have made me aware
of the chill outdoors
What becomes of those who have only the cold
to keep them company at what's supposed to be
the most wonderful time of the year?
I usually don't give a second thought to
the fact that I'm not alone
My mother, brothers and sister are here
My grandmother too...and too many friend's to count.
I take great pride in signing Christmas cards...
Look at the people I know!
And most of them have not heard from me
since this time last year!

But thinking of the chill again, I can't begin
To describe what it would be like out there.
I've not had that experience.
Yet it's tempting to say: "I understand."
What do I know?
I have turkey, dressing, bottles of apple cider
Flannel sheets, a robe and slippers.
What does one say to someone... when a bus stop
bench is their bed?
After all...they say it's the most wonderful time of the year.

My problems for the moment are sore feet and
the screaming kid behind me.
Poor kid. That poor mother! What can she do?
Gee, would it help if I paid for her stuff too?
After all, it IS the most wonderful time of the year!

CES (C) 1996.