Tomorrow Is THE DAY When It All Begins A CHRISTMAS REFLECTION By Dr. Kathleen Sullivan Tingles trickle down my arms like the
ice crystals melting in the frost as my five-year-old self huddles excitedly in the small chair by the window. A smile crinkles the corners of my mouth and I squeeze my eyes shut for a moment, hoping to hear those distant Santa sleigh bells, and maybe the scuffling sounds of a reindeer’s hoof on our rooftop. A scratching sound against the side of our house startles my eyes open. The thought that it is merely the bare branches of the tree outside tapping the shutters never enters my mind; my imagination has already taken hold. I squash my face against the glass, trying to peer into the winter darkness. A single streetlight shines a soft halo of light on the still street below. The few cars lining the sides of the road are covered in a calm of snow. The small flakes fall gently, the lights of the neighbor’s house glow warmly, and the candles in the window flicker and wink as if they were alive.
20
Instaurare
