December

She didn't remember who I was But it didn't really matter Her eyes lit up like sunshine Each time I entered the room as if we were long lost friends She'd say, "Oh! Please, sit a spell",... and I would grab a chair... I would hand her the bag, and she would peek inside. She wore her smile like a happy child. Cookies !...."Oh my! My favorite kind!" One would think it were a pot of gold. As we chatted, she told me her about her birthday. "December 19th!", she would remind me.. Forgetting that just the day before we had celebrated, and even more. She said...."Oh,..let's have a party!" Everyone knew that this lady loved a party. And I replied, "Of course!" "I must be going!", she suddenly said Said again, with a worried brow...just as she fretted the day before.. "The girls will be home from school!" She looked around for her purse. "I have three girls, you know,.....they will be coming home from school." She repeated once more...."I have three daughters, you know." I told her the girls will be fine...and that I'd like to visit a little longer. That seemed to calm her. "Have you seen my ring?".. She held her blue veined, withered hand high in the air for me to see. A flash of glitter graced her finger, sparkling just like the stars in the sky. "My husband gave it to me. It was a Valentine surprise!" she said. "He was a rascal, you know!" "Oh,...it's beautiful, Irene"...I responded. "Did you know", she smiled again...."this was a Valentine surprise!"...? "My husband gave it to me" Finally, it was time for me to leave. I got up to say goodbye. "Would you mind giving me a ride?" she said. ...."The girls will be coming home from school!" I told her I would check on her girls...not to worry. And then I told her I would be back again tomorrow.. "I have a birthday coming", she said....December l9th!! Did you know?" Once more...I said..."Yes...we will have a party".... "Did you see my ring?"..."My husband gave it to me on Valentines, it was a surprise!" And I said..."It's lovely Irene....as lovely as the stars in the sky" As lovely as Irene.... Goodnight Irene goodnight....the stars will shine brighter tonight,... Stars always shine brighter in December........ Goodnight Irene, goodnight.... _________________________________________________________________________