The hustle and bustle of Christmas ebbs and flows. There are parties, shopping, and decorating the Christmas Tree. Brilliant wrapping paper from Paper Source and resplendent ribbon from the old world. A memorable Dirty Santa Christmas gift exchange that will not soon be forgotten. Family, you wish you could be with them much more often than you are. Having two-inch porkchops in a Victorian Christmas-decorated private room at Patti’s Settlement in Kentucky. Yet there are silent pauses along the Christmas path.

A special aura rests over Christmas. The happenings are marvelous and mysterious. The world is seen through red and green glasses. We are reminded that we will be here for only some Christmases. It is a privilege that those before us treasured. The photos of our memories remind us of Christmas past. We have arrived in our future. No longer do we sit at the kids’ table. Now we are the patriarchs and matriarchs of the festivities. The young among us look to us and watch us for our reactions to the holy event.

The Woods were silent as the Old Man walked its paths. The deer dances around him, smiling. Neva J follows singing, ‘Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, won’t you please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny, a haypenny will do if you haven’t got a haypenny. God Bless You.’

We will sit at the Christmas Table with many who have gone beyond the Veil. They will laugh at our jokes and take another slice of Christmas Goose. They know what is in store for us and want to give us the good news.