The Stuff of Christmas

Christmas is the sheerest of joy wrapped up in a smile

From the first hug of a friend or kiss from a grandma

The first taste of a sugar cookie made from scratch

The smell of a Frasier fir or cranberry candle

And the sheer amount of food from everyone

There’s Aunt Cookie’s cheese ball

There’s Aunt Dee’s chocolate pretzel sticks

There’s my mom’s guava and cheese on a Ritz

And all the main attractions

Black beans and rice

Arroz con picadillo

Ropa vieja

Platanos soft and hard

Yuca (which I always thought was Yucky)

Roasted potatoes

Roasted mojo pork

Cuban bread with garlic and butter

It’s a wonder we didn’t explode.

The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas Volumes I and II

Playing in the background

Amid the chatting and laughter

The chafter after with coffee and cake,

Tying all the memories of Christmas

With cousins, family, and friends,

Together in a big bow of love and cheer.

Later that night, as the quiet settles in,

We replay the day in our heads,

From the first presents at home

To the presence of being with the people we love.

From excited to exhausted,

Our expectations have been exceeded.

Like the dogs, we’re sprawled out

On the sofa, the glow of the TV

Lulling us to sleep

Sugar plums no longer dance in our heads.