advent {day 24}

altar carving in my mother's childhood church~ northern germany



my mother's favorite day.
and it arrived without her.

i admit to being a bit sad,
but not for reasons you might think.

i wish the season was longer this year.
these 24 days have flown by.

i have been enjoying myself,
much to my surprise.

i have participated and said yes,
marveled at lit houses, 
moved through the inevitable tears,

and kept going.

there was even dancing to a horrible hawiian holiday song
 in the backroom at work with my friend.




things are less heavy than they used to be.

there is joy for the taking.

she is here.