Book of Past Challenges

Christmas Blurred

Christmas Blurred

Over my 77 years,
no one Christmas
stands out.
Most of my childhood years
are pretty much a blank slate.
I do recall one Christmas morning
sitting on the policeman's desk
my legs dangling
while Mama bailed out Daddy.
And another Christmas the police
brought Daddy home,
the cuts on his face
and his guilty smirk scared me.

I know I have cooked
the holiday meal
the giant portion
of my years,
sometimes more than once.
Even as a kid I peeled potatoes
and other easy tasks,
by my teens I always baked the pies.
(I had a knack.)
Since I married, 55 years ago
I have never not cooked
for the special day.

One year I cooked a full feast
for my brother and friend
at home, before joining
my husband in Baja
where I helped cook
Christmas dinner at the kayaking school
for 40 people on El Coyote Playa
where we anchored.
Then two days later prepared
another Christmas dinner
for our Irish friends
who were at sea on Christmas Day.
One other Baja Christmas
I cooked the turkey and pies
and campers on the beach
brought side dishes
for a potluck.
Locals brought traditional tomales.
We strung colored lights on the tenders
and trolled the shoreline
playing Carols on a boom box
while Santa buzzed the beach
in an ultra light.

But my favorites
are Christmas at home
Midnight Mass,
family and friends
at my table.
Just the unremarkable
comfort of Christmas.
         ~~Judi Van Gorder

56 Lines

Notes: ▼

Theme: Something, anything to do with a particular Christmas.
No restrictions - just make it real. And at least 20 lines long.