A Christmas Story

my brother, my cousins and

i listened quietly to the

stories …

laughing along with

everyone especially the

story

about the crow and the cherry pits …

or intrigued by the

stories

Grandmother and Grandfather told about

growing up on a farm …

…..

i can’t remember any of the

gifts i received that

year …

but i clearly remember

the warm air

rushing out at my face the

first time

we opened the

big oven’s

door …

…..

the darkening shades

of golden brown that appeared

every three hours as the

pig rotated ‘round and

‘round over the

blue flame …

…..

the pig’s blanket in the

back of the

car …

Grandmother’s rich gravy

pooled on our

mashed potatoes …

…..

while we laughed and

listened

i looked over at the

pig

resting in the

middle of the table,

our little

family

gathered around it …

…..

strangely enough, it seemed as if that

pig

had a smile on its

face …

…..

 the whole day seems to have

revolved around that

beautiful golden

pig …

…..

especially when we were all

gathered around that long

dinner table sharing its

meat  while reliving

family

memories …

…..

 how strangely beautiful it

seems

now that

that

golden brown

roasted pig had

given me one of the

best Christmas

gifts

i had ever

received …