'Twas The Days Before December....

'Twas the days before December,
and all through our house,
not a sign of Christmas spirit,
not a bit, not an ounce.

I rearranged the furniture,
twice, around our living room,
I finally find the perfect spot,
and drag out the vacuum.

Next I headed to the attic,
and despite my noise and clatter,
not one person looked about,
to see what was the matter.

I heaved the boxes down,
pushed the tree down through the hatch,
dragged it to the living room,
and unpacked our crazy stash.

I looked about in anticipation,
of all the help I would receive,
but Tony just said frankly,
"I didn't even want a tree."

I started with the lighting,
a confused look upon my face,
weird shaped plugs and twisted wires,
spare bulbs all over the place.

I hopefully plug them together,
but my mind there'd be no doubt,
I would absolutely need that string,
that makes the rest go out.

Switching bulbs and colors,
snipping all the wires,
twisting and re-taping,
so as not to start a fire.

Three hours later,
the lights are on the tree,
the garland's strung to fill it out,
and still no one's helping me.

I vacuum once again,
Cussing loudly in my head,
Tony's wrapped up in the game,
and Oldest's still in bed.

What happened to this tradition,
I loved so much as a teen?
Mom always made us cocoa,
as we donned the evergreen.

Friends would come from all around,
Dad always strung the lights,
the tree was far from perfect,
but it was still the perfect night.

I sift through the ornaments,
collected throughout the years,
and what comes from behind me,
but music to my ears.

Youngest, still in his boxers,
has risen from his room,
has come to help with our tree,
and not a minute too soon.

He sorts them with me,
remembering where and when they're from,
a trip, a moment, Santa's lap,
a special moment with his Mom.

Moments from when were were just,
a family of just three and then five,
Memories of all the moments,
we have had since he's been alive.

And while we decorated for mere minutes,
before he headed back down to read,
he always seems to know,
exactly what I need.

Now the tree stand pretty,
taking up tons of precious space,
Tony's team has won the game,
and now he's in my face.

And while it's completion may not bring me,
ample amounts Christmas cheer,
I can cross it off the list as done,
at least until New Year's.