XI

XI-MAS.
better than just your ordinary X-mas,
and that by an order of magnitude.
it goes to eleven because it has to.
expectations run high as to our Folk Life country holiday.
yeah.
you know how it is,
but don't fret, friends-
we did it right.

c'mon.
picture perfect woodsly fireplace magic.
that's some elite crackery jauns, for sure.
stuffed stockings,
crisp edged metallic-foils on the boxes,
color-coordinated bows an' tissue an' that,
with scent-locked memory-bank activation inside and out.
hmm?
the candles are the key, kids.
it smells exactly the same on the inside of the boxes
as it does inside the Fortress.
smart.
even the chocolates matched the stockings.
i know.
expert.
white chocolate polar bear in the polar bear sock,
and a dark chocolate penguin in the penguin.
fortune smiles sometimes, neighbors.
anyway, it was perfect.
check the showboat-and-grandstanding-type teleport:

harvest's haul.

and maple's.
c'mon.
i may be a savage.
i may be an ugly duckling.
i may be a werewolfen barbarian.
i may be an abominable blizzard wizard.
i may even just be a real rat-bastard sunovab!tch-
but,
when it comes to the times i span by choice?
i put every ounce of intention and attention and detailed focus
into making sure that i make up for all the rest of it.
these kids are important to me,
and i present my presents as a reflection of that.
it's just stuff.
i know that.
but it's also exactly what they wanted,
and it's exactly the kind of thing that lets 'em know i'm listening.
it's not only about what's in the box, dummies-
it's the whole thing.
the big picture.
the grand gesture.
the fancy holiday family togetherness good feelings.
i'm sayin'-
we make magic,
and we create memories with the time we've got.
every minute counts more when we're together.
that's the whole point.
the piles were heaped with excellence,
the sights and sounds and smells were intense,
the fire was roaring,
the lights were shining,
and all of it was just what we wanted,
and exactly what we needed.
what's better than a second christmas?
XI-mas, every time.
more beautifully, more super-fancily,
more expert.
the name says what it is-
eleven-mas;
never quiet, never soft.....
.....mas means more, duh.