making space for christmas

the house is still groaning

from thanksgiving.

the extra large platters

haven't been returned to their cupboard

and the freezer is pregnant

with leftovers.

its time to make some space.

the spare room

has to be emptied

of its yearly accumulation

of castoff clothing,

empty suitcases,

piles of old towels,

and spring jackets

that have been waiting to be taken to new homes.

its time to make more space.

the shelves need to be emptied

and filled with the collection

that sees daylight for a few weeks each year.

its time to move the furniture

so the tree can be brought in,

boxes can be unpacked,

and the house can sparkle like it should.

we definitely need to make space.

the days are full,

overflowing into nights

from work to store to work to bed to work again.

there are lists filling up pockets,

the calendar,

and the little note pad on the fridge.

but still we need to make space.

greetings need to be sent

with lists of all the space

we made throughout the year

for fun and adventure,

sadness,

change,

and growth.

we wish everyone

(and silently ourselves)

the gift

of space for those things in their life next year.

our hopes are full

with plans

to watch that stack of movies,

spend an evening over games,

take that long snowy walk,

cook more but eat less,

and this time,

this time

stop and savor

the stars in the polished night sky,

the laughter filling every room,

and the way the tree lights

make you look like a child again.

somehow, somehow

we need to make space.

late, late at night

my bed is full

with thoughts and to dos

seeping out from the previous day's

unfinished work

that buries me deep under the blanket.

never have i more needed to make space.

at first light of morning

a thought like a mouse

burrows its way

into my waking mind,

gnawing, and wriggling,

trying to make space.

so i set aside the pile of lists,

the cookbooks

left unopened,

and ignore the silent call

of the mountain of gifts to wrap.

i sit down

with a cold cup of coffee

and realize

after the letters have landed

on the screen

that i may have done it.

and now

i hope

have you.

somehow

just now

we have made

space.