My Favorite Christmas Was Tomorrow Erv Barnes December, 2009 I will go to bed early tonight and not sleep. Later, I will fall asleep and wake up in a dark room. But, I have no clock in the old farmhouse. I will quietly go downstairs to see what Santa has brought. But, wait! What if he hasn’t come yet? What if he is here and I surprise him? So, I will sit on the bottom step and not open the door. I am too excited to go back to bed, and I am too afraid to open the door. What will I do? I know. I will sit here and anticipate. My childhood Christmas was always a thrill of anticipation. Today, I don’t care about presents, only presence. My little grandchildren will be here to celebrate Christmas, and I have already assembled a Dora’s kitchen for Clara. I will anticipate again, not for the joy of my gifts, but for the joy on my family’s faces: little Clara’s dark-eyed wonder, brother Ian’s blue-eyed glee, Mama’s green-eyed peace and joy, Papa’s big-eyed grin, and Grandma Ha Ha’s dancing eyes. I can hardly wait. May my favorite Christmas always be the next one. |