City sidewalks busy sidewalks .
Dressed in holiday style
In the air There’s a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing People passing Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you’ll hear……….
Our little sleepy town twinkles awake at Christmas. The lampposts are adorned with bright festive lights, the shops and the courthouse are outlined in lights. Sidewalks carry shoppers from here to there holding packages. Sales on idle merchandise entice even the frugal of folks to spend and buy….more for themselves than others.
Last week I encountered at least 12 people who were out to buy gifts, but confessed they bought more for themselves than the loved ones on their list. I found myself in their shoes. It’s hard to pass up a “good deal” especially when it’s something you need or have been wanting for awhile and waiting for a sale. When we get back to our list the check book balance is too low for giving, so we pull out the plastic. After all we need to get gifts for everyone on our list.
On our way to that sale, traffic was heavy and some guy cut right in front of us so we laid on our horn shouting and waving our hand as if we were Italian. The other hand we turned up our radio not missing a beat belting out our favorite Christmas tune……
Strings of street lights Even stop lights Blink a bright red and green As the shoppers rush home with their treasures……….
As we step on the gas to beat a light, pushing the speed just a tad so that we can get the kiddos all gussied up for their picture with Santa.
Hear the snow crunch See the kids bunch This is Santa’s big scene………..
How bout that scene? Every year children are put on the chopping block, not only from the scratching clothing and the pinching shoes but then they are placed in the lap of a real live Giant bearded dude and expected to smile. We all know what happens when the tears start rolling. Every person in the room becomes a comedian making googly faces and sounds to get the baby to smile. And oh how familiar the line “Santa, won’t bring you any toys if you cry, now smile pretty”. Of course the treat of a spanking isn’t totally ruled out either. Oh the expectations of that perfect outfit and dazzling smile of our spit shined kid. We need that photo as proof to all our family and friends that our child is amazing…..and for the memories. Never mind all the comments whispered in line as the other Mother’s compare children.
If all we ever expected was kindness….how crazy would that be? If all we ever gave was kindness…..would we be considered crazy?
And above all this bustle You’ll hear Silver bells, silver bells It’s Christmas time in the city Ring-a-ling, hear them ring Soon it will be Christmas day.