Christmas.

it makes me think of red and green, blue and purple, silver and gold. the smells of holly, mint, and sweet hot chocolate. the taste of thick eggnog, spices of pumpkin chocolate chip bread. every day the tree seems to grow brighter with lights and presents, anticipations high. generosity soars in unforeseen ways; many people's lists of gifts to give are greater than their own desires. no, this is not only the case, but if the story of rudolph is any indication, we as humans like positive stories. front yards and roofs are each their world, staying awake long into the night. pink noses and cheeks, scarves tucked under my chin, shuffling in boots. waking up on Christmas morning, pretending for a split second that santa is real and you just missed him - the bite from the cookie is his, not my dad's. it's snowing love in our hearts, the beating making a pitter patter, easily mistaken for a reindeer. and lacing through every memory is mannheim steamroller, charlie brown, contemporary Christmas, classics. music. the familiar sounds are like a warm blanket next to a fire. the whole season is, actually. sometimes, in my house, it lasts longer than the new year, weaving sugarplums and holiday colors into our dreams.

from above,

white                                           flakes
               tumble                                             down                                       like                   pieces          of
                               stars,                         landing           on                                     my
tongue,                         as                        sweet                               as                      peppermint.
               they                     dance                      in                                       the           faint             breeze,
                        slowly                 coating                  the ground,                    a                 dusting                   of
      magic.                           i                             want                        this                                         to
   last              forever;                   the                            world                        changed                in
an                             instant;                                  everything                    you               once             held
true                          flipped.              and                 yet,                          perhaps,           it is             a change                for                                                                                  the
           better,                        however                     temporary.               and as i catch                one
in                    my hand,                                 it takes               just                       a           second to melt,
        but                in                that second,                                    i                 see      hope      
  and                            a                                   unique                  story,                            woven
into                                       the                            very             icy                  pattern,                           so
complex              even                                      the                          snowflake                  can't
                see                           all                             of        it.                        and               isn't
           that              true                for us,       too?                                  after                                    all,                              we                                        are 
as unique as the blanket of fresh snow that settles on the ground. it is gentle enough for footprints and thick enough to stick, leaving a path, so that lovers may find each other again, best friends may reunite, and families become one... all amid the beautiful peppermint snow.