Christmas is Youth Eternal

"Christmas is Youth Eternal"

Oh to be young again.

The wondrous joy of Christmas morning.
Secret little packages coming in from the car.
The hope that there will be a Christmas snow.
Warm smells coming from the kitchen.
The pungent aroma of pine from a fresh cut evergreen.
Stockings that will be stuffed and the ones on that
special day overflowing with surprises.
Delicate wonders being unpacked from boxes older than oneself
and hung on the tree.
The agonizing days till school recesses for the break and that
longest day of the year, the 24th.
That wondrous morning when love and family fills your life.

Oh to be young again.

Shopping for that special someone.
Sledding in the moonlight.
Wrapping that one package in the most careful fashion.
Learning to cook those special holiday treats.
Sharing the season with those that cannot.
Musical concerts and school programs to attend.

Oh to be young again.

The joy of preparing things for baby's first Christmas.
Carving the holiday traditions for the next generation.
Cutting the holiday tree and bringing it home.
Learning to laugh when it falls over for the fourth time.
Finding the right stocking to hand down to ones children.
The smiles as the little ones learn to open a present.

Oh to be young again.

Keeping the kids out of the presents smuggled in from the car.
Watching their anticipation of the day build.
The questions about Santa that are always forthcoming.
Helping to write those letters to Santa.
The milk and cookies consumed that were left... out.
Filling the stockings and carefully hanging them.
Wrapping all those presents.
Talking to mom and dad about what a good day the children had.

Oh to be young again.

Helping the kids pick out gifts for their special someones.
Being surprised that the kids can be so helpful in the kitchen.
The joy of seeing the kids giving and sharing the spirit of the time.
Countless musical concerts where notes that were off key were never noticed.
Watching out the window for the kids to make their way home.
The joy of receiving gifts from the kids that were completely from them.
Seeing the kids helping others.
Enjoying the season more as things slow down.
Collecting keepsakes to be passed down for Christmas's in the future.

Oh to be young again.

Picking out toys for grandchild's first Christmas.
Sending the ornaments to the kids that have been collected
over the years to help fill that first big tree.
Hearing from the kids how the tree fell over and the
Christmas goose was overdone.
Getting the Christmas picture of the grandkids.
Hearing on Christmas day how the baby learned to open a package
by gumming a corner till the paper fell off.
Hearing the tree fall over in the background as the
little one pulled the lights off the tree.

Oh to be young again.

Mailing toys to all the different places the kids have moved to.
Making sure that each grandkid gets exactly the toy that he or she wants.
Sending your children things like towels or pots and pans and knowing that
they are as appreciated as much as that special toy years ago.
Spending more time writing Christmas cards trying to
catch up with old friends and relatives now distant.
Being surprised that your children are capable of
preparing the deserts or the entire Christmas meal.
That call from the grandkids on Christmas day
thanking you for all the "neat" presents.
Hearing the grandkids playing in the background and the
unavoidable argument about whose toy that is.

Oh to be young again.

Seeing four generations, your children, their children and
their babies all gather for a family holiday.
Knowing that the traditions you passed down and those
that you started will endure for years to come.
And always hoping for a Christmas Snow....

Oh to be young again.

Funny how things change in value as we grow older.
But one thing remains constant;

Christmas is a time for family.

A Very Merry Christmas
to All our Friends

Written for my mother, Christmas '98
Copyright Merlin's World "98