Christmas time

Tending your garden...

I write down what comes every morning.
I sat down, closed my eyes,
let my fingers move.
And this is what came to me today:

“Hey there, friend.”
“Where have you been?”
“Oh, you know…”
“No, I don’t—that’s why I’m asking.”
“Ok, I’ve been…around.”
“Alright…ok…you’ve been around.”
“I’m just doing my thing.”
“Your thing?”
“Yes, you know.”
“No, no I don’t.”
“For heaven’s sake, I’m just doing ordinary things—
going to work, coming home from work,
talking to my wife,
making sure my kid doesn’t mess around in school too much.”
“Oh, you have a family.”
“Yes.”
“I envy you. Take care of them.”
“Hey, where are you going?”
“I’m going on a cruise with friends. Caribbean.”
“Oh, that’s nice.”
“I’d rather be with my family.”

(Silence)

“I lost them, you know. They don’t want to talk to me anymore.”
“Oh, I’m sorry…”
“Don’t be. I’m fine…I’ll be fine.”

It is the season when families gather.
It is also the season of what could have been,
of regrets,
when loneliness is magnified -
even in the most crowded rooms…