Fuzzy socks on my feet and Lindor truffles just out of reach,

Curled up on the sofa with plaid jammies and a fluffy throw,

Sparkling lights on the tree sitting in the corner,

And all the lights out and an electric ‘fireplace’ making it cozy,

Along with a fan blowing on high, just to make it feel like winter.

Settling in for the evening, another Hallmark movie on play,

My guilty pleasure this time of year; they make me smile.

Here’s to finding what makes you calm and happy,

Even if it is only for a little while.

The last time I mounted a horse, I was just a child of eleven or twelve. My cousin and I went out to our uncle’s field where he kept the horses and they ran wild and free. The horses were broken of course, familiar with a saddle.

We had to first get one of the four-legged beauties over to my dad. He waited there by the truck for us to find our steed. Imagine two tweens running around a field in search for a friendly horse.

One finally relented and sauntered over. He knew what was up, but we’d be light loads. Dad cinched on the saddle and my cousin climbed up.

Off he went…well, okay, my dad actually led him. After a few minutes they circled back. He laughed and scrambled down.

Next it was my turn. I clambered up a top the saddle and off we went. The saddle seemed loose, but what did I know. I was just a kid. We walked a little further up the hillside.

Dad then turned the horse, and the saddle shifted, tumbling me onto the graveled ground. My spine just missed a jagged rock. He fixed the saddle and I climbed back up, but my fear was set. The bruise lasted for a few weeks.

I still love these stately animals; maybe one day I will ride again. But for now, I settle for feeding them apples and giving them a nice little pat on the head should I have the chance.

Popsicle toes and a cold nose,

Strike an angel’s pose,

Swing your limbs to and fro.

Watch the dusting fly, all that snow.

Giggle and laugh with delight,

Under a star and moon lit night.

Paper, tape, ribbons and bows

Pens with which to write,

Cardboard boxes of various sizes too,

It’s gift wrapping night!

Unrolling, measuring, cutting away,

Taping and labeling, so many to go,

Shipping needs to be done another day,

The holly and plaid are perfect with that bow.

Hope these packages make family smile,

And bring some joy for a little while.

What once flowed freely,

thickens and becomes sticky.

Now it drips out

in long drawn-out drops,

slow, oozing, darkened

from its once golden state.

Still sweet, but now concentrated.

Push it much further,

it will become bitter,

burnt, unrecognizable

and no longer enjoyable.

Stop, before it is overdone.

Her heart races, unwilling to slow down.

There is no reason for it. She doesn’t know why.

Pulling up the blankets, a slight chill fills the air.

She forces her breath to slow, hoping it helps.

The beating is loud to her ears in the silence of the room.

It is almost going at double time.

She closes her eyes and tries to calm down.

Finally, her exhaustion takes over,

drifting to sleep, as her heart slows.

---

Ever have one of those nights where you are so tired yet so wound up at the same time?

Pounding, pounding, on it goes.

The noise doesn’t stop in her head.

Gears turning and churning,

Impossible to find a stopping point.

Questions flow through her mind;

Am I on the right path, or biding my time?

But finally a goal she sought arrives,

The one her brain pushes her towards.

Her heart quiets its screams,

Knowing now is no longer the time.

She needs a break, a moment of rest.

The heart hopes it’s time will come.

She hopes it doesn’t miss its chance

Next time.

It shattered. The porcelain bowl lied in several pieces. It was special, and it still was. It couldn’t be destined for the trash, for it was treasured so.

Instead, lovingly, she gathered the pieces, as tears rolled down her face. Bit by bit, she reassembled the bowl, embellishing each vein with gold. When she was done, it became more beautiful than before.

She set it on the mantle, knowing it’s secret, filling it with solid things, from candies to baubles and more. A secret lied at the bottom for no one to ever see.

One day he came in, full of love. He decided to pour it in the bowl. It held for a while, but then the secret was revealed. There was a hole, a piece still missing, at the very bottom.

She had never found it, that missing piece. So despite all of its beauty and restoration, it wasn’t whole.