Christmas Vampire

A L O H A

to

YOU !

Gosh it feels like Christmas!

  The TV is showing blizzards

in North America,

Mrs. Obama and the girls

are here on Oahu with us. . .

The parking lots at Ala Moana Shopping Center

are full,

  the road to the interstellar telescopes

atop the summit of Mauna Kea

is closed

because of snow and inclement weather.

There is hurry, frustration, &

transformative joy 

at loose on this island.

  Locally based troops

were the last group to leave Iraq this weekend.

Our  Hawaii Air National Guard brought them home.

We see them marching into the hangar

to the jubilation of their families

on local TV news and it makes

me cry every time.

Can't help thinking of what poet Robert Graves,

a combatant in WWI,

said of the night that 

that war ended:

" The news sent me out walking. . .

cursing and sobbing

and thinking of

the dead. "

  =^.^=

Holiday cards are coming in 

bringing an air of festivity

into our home.

Meanwhile,

especially this year,

we are doing NOTHING

but enjoying it all!

There will be DRY champagne,

and happy times.

We are sort of:

Christmas Vampires,

enjoying it all through the emotions

of others,

free-riders.

It has been wonderful

visiting all of your posts,

looking around at all the jollity,

and deep reflection,

then leaving for the next party-

all without bringing anything

but a friendly comment,

or being thought rude

for leaving so quickly.

Thank YOU

for sharing this wondrous season!

Mindful of New Years, Hanukkah, Kwanza,

I have always enjoyed wishing others:

"Happy Holidays."

Nowadays, some who find that offensive

(as denying the primacy of christians)

have taken all the joy out of it.

I refuse to say Merry Christmas,

because bullies dictate it.

*SIGH*

Glad you and I

are past all that!

Thanks SO much-

Tell us a small holiday treasure you enjoy

in comments !

                                                                     Fondly, cloudia