Tucked in a Book-Author Unknown_

mom reading to her grandsons

After my mother passed, I "inherited" a few items from the little she had left.
Living in a nursing home doesn't afford much room, and you learn it's not the amount of things you have it's more about relationships that matter.

This poem was tucked in a book and I decided to keep it.   I don't know why, maybe because it was what she liked and it was like reaching across the room to touch a memory.

The Spirit of Christmas

I have a list of folks I know all written inside this book, 

and every year at Christmas time I go and take a look,

And that is when I realize that those names are a part

of not of the book they're written in

but of my very heart.

For each name stands for someone

who has crossed my path some time,

and in that meeting they've

become a treasured gem of mine.

And once you've met some people, 

the years cannot erase 

the memory of a pleasant word or a

of a friendly face.

So when I send a Christmas Card

that is addressed to you

its because you're on that list of folks I am indebted to.

And you are one of many folks who in times past I've met,

and happen to be one of those I 

don't want to forget.

And whether I have known you

for many years or few,

In some way you have a part

in shaping things I do.

This is the spirit of Christmas 

forever and ever endures,

and leaves it's richest blessing

in the heart of you and yours.

-Author Unknown-

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours, and heartfelt memories of those

who have enriched your lives even after they've gone.

Wishes

Yesterday I was a little girl, wishing like no tomorrow to grow up and change the world all the while walking down the aisle in my wedding dress alongside my boyfriend turned husband.

I remember wishing so hard that I actually thought I could change into tomorrow. It happened after many tomorrows passed by and the fairy tale wedding of shussing and clacking down the aisle was smaller and had less sound than in my minds eye but it did happen.

It was yesterday that I climbed trees, we had more than enough and that I caught lightning bugs and put them in a jar and watched the magical glow. Yesterday my brother and I along with his friends piled snowballs high behind the fort ready to plow the "enemy" before they had the chance.

I sat in my little rocking chair, the one that remains silent in the upstairs room, on the porch rocking my baby doll to sleep caring for my imaginary family and now they've all moved out, they're on their own, and today has come and yesterday is gone. All the wishing has materialized unimaginable happenings and time is still ticking along but now it's faster. I'm washing my own clothes making my own meals rocking in a different chair and wishing like no tomorrow to turn back the hands of time.

I wouldn't want to go through everything again but touch on the moments that mean the most. To sit at the family table and have a meal prepared by my mother....

...sitting on the ground watching my dad fix his truck and handing him the tools he needs while listening to him tell his stories...

..coming in for hot chocolate after shaking the snow from my boots and my cheeks are rosy red

...fighting with my brother to watch Sky King instead of Bugs Bunny.

....picking apples from the apple trees....

....cherries from the cherry tree....

...playing hide n seek with the whole neighborhood......

...roller skating with the Hover girls across the street....

...listening to my Grandpa L. cuss like a sailor...

...sitting on the scritchy sofa watching Lawrence Welk with my grandparents....

I could go on and on, I do know I was blessed to have these memories and am grateful and no amount of wishing is gonna ever happen...and that's okay....but I like the warm and fuzzy way I feel when a memory surfaces and I sit and smile and shake my head wondering why I tried to wish it away...

...but hey I was a kid what did I know.....