Even in Florida

Home again, home again, jiggity jig. Someone new to speak with waits in Illinois. Life continues. It's good to have new prospects. It's good to keep the old.

Someone found me in Florida.

This is the miracle

Of on-line communication.

When I return to Illinois

There is the prospect

Of a new conversation

And maybe more.

Even in Florida

Someone new

Found me.

Even here.

Far from the madding crowd

Last day in Florida.  We leave for home in the morning.  Different families operate at different decibel levels. This one is considerably louder than is my custom.  My beloved's parents keep their home at 78 F.  I am still a Minnesota girl.

Here

It is loud

And very warm.

I have found a spot

Under the fan,

Far from the madding crowd.

I come and go.

I wonder why

It took me so long

To figure out

This place of quiet

And moving air.

Merry Christmas from God

In all the years coming to Boca Raton the week after Christmas we have never been to this church. We have gone Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopal and non-denominational.  This year was an Episcopal church which, by its website, looked much like our current church.

The priest ended his sermon

Merry Christmas from God.

Other than this

We all disagreed on the main point.

We all heard different things.

He said there were three things

He wanted us to know,

Except there were at least

Three sets of three.

We agreed he was a master

At birthday and anniversary blessings.

This will carry him through.

The organ had more pipes

Than we have ever heard,

And someone present must have donated

The zimbelstern.

We will surely return

If only to see if we can agree

On sermon points

Or whether the zimbelstern

Will be used during Lent.

Here in Florida

Every family has its dance.  After over twenty years I am still learning the steps of my beloved's family.  Merry Christmas.  Happy Hanukkah.

Here in Florida

I come and go

Do what I can

Take a break

Then disappear.

Then reappear.

Here in Florida

A party means figuring out

How to fit the same eleven people

Around the same table

As last year

And the year before.

A party means

Appetizers of olives and cream cheese

Figured out

Three hours ahead of time.

It means

Lost Christmas gifts

For those who celebrate

Hanukkah.

Here in Florida

I figure the same things

Every year.

I come and go

Do what I can

Take a break.

Then disappear.

Then reappear.

No snow

Ah, perspective.  The Pier One woman was thrilled last year.  She moved to Illinois for the snow.

It was warm in Illinois

It is warmer here

In Florida.

I close my eyes

Picture snow

On the palm trees,

Remember the sales clerk

At Pier One

On December 24.

She moved from Florida last year

To spend her retirement

In Illinois

So much snow

She said

It smells like snow today

She said

Isn’t it wonderful?

Isn’t it simply

Wonderful?

Simplifying Christmas

When my now 27 year old son was 3, a Siamese cat appeared at the door.  My son wanted to name him Rabbity.  We settled on Barry.  Now we have a tweed reindeer next to the tree.  We have named him Rabbity.  It is too good a name to go unused.

  

We simplified Christmas

Then remembered the cat bed

We saw at TJ Maxx.

At the store

To buy the cat bed

We saw a three and a half foot high

Tweed reindeer.

We have named him

Rabbity.

I received a sloth stuffed animal

For Christmas.

He is sitting

On Rabbity’s back

Next to the Christmas tree.

Cat and tree

Yes, he played with the bells on the bottom branches last night.  Today he is content to sleep in the presence of the tree.

He saw

The attention we gave

To putting up the tree

Last night.

In the absence of sun

He is sound asleep

In the presence

Of the tree:

All the symbols

Of our light and life

On its branches.

Warmth

More than enough.