Five Days Before Christmas

These ornaments need hangers.

I could unfurl paperclips 

(in homage to Daddooooo's ingenuity)

and, perhaps, I will.

For now, I am dealing with this:

The remnants of my elfing to date.  

I am finished, having done as much as I can do.

I will pack up the Hanukkah stuff,

but I will leave the rest for any elves who might wander through between now and Thursday night.

I will take TBG to the outlet stores tomorrow; 

he will choose athletic wear which I will then purchase and wrap.

He'll lift and spin in perfect comfort, having chosen exactly what he wanted.

He'll do the same for me at my favorite local boutique,

sitting in the same comfy chair he occupies each year, 

selecting an I'd-never-buy-it-for-myself-sweater 

that I surprise myself by wearing everywhere for the next year.

There's not a lot of surprise,

and that's just fine with us.

*****

For Megan:

This is the 27 year old paper plate angel made by Little Cuter.

I never looked at it without remembering our friends' basement,

the kids at little tables and big tables,

glue and glitter and sparkly paper everywhere.

The grown ups were upstairs,

but the fun and the really good snacks were in the basement.