Family Festivities

By Victoria Simon

The holidays are a time for peace, celebration and family. There is nothing like getting together with family, is there? Just hearing those words brings nostalgic images to mind…images of grandma pulling a steaming apple pie out of the oven, images of children playing “Go fish”, and images of Uncle Phil snoring in the recliner in the corner, right? If that is what you are picturing then you clearly aren’t in my family!

My family gatherings are loud and chaotic and include siblings arguing about politics, my mother cussing as she pulls something smoking from the oven, children staring mute and wide-eyed at technology, grandma pacing about and my father snoring in a recliner.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my family! Where can you get such entertainment! Re-hashing it in the car on the way home doubles the experience. “Did you hear Aunt Cathy?” I say to my husband. “She is the most critical person I know but she tries to makes it sound like she’s being helpful. And cousin Tim! What is up with him? Did you notice that Tamara only ate the food she brought? How could those twins look so perfect and be such a handful?”

Do your best to enjoy your family this holiday season. If your family is like mine and you are seeking “Peace on Earth,” you may want to be the one celebrating sound asleep in the recliner!

(As published in the Sentinel Standard Weekender of Ionia, Sat. Dec 20, 2014.)

Ode to Word Gatherers
By Victoria Simon

We are word gatherers because the words are already there.
We merely gather and rearrange them
Until they make sense and give meaning.

Dollars have value once the numbers are revealed at the mint.
A calendar gives order when months and dates are arranged.
A book gives meaning only after words are printed on the page.

Words drip from a poet’s lips descriptively the way
Sticky syrup drips from the lips of a five year old eating a popsicle
Words are tacked to the page declaratively by reporters the way
A sign is tacked to a telephone pole stating, “Lost kitten. If found, please call”.
Words flow to the playwrite conversationally the way
A river shapes the stones in its path, polishing the surfaces smooth.
But the novelist! The poor, poor novelist!
Words are typed in fits and starts erratically the way
Butterflies are caught in a net and some escape.

We are word gatherers discovering meaning in our own writing.
We write, we rewrite, we edit and we write some more
Until our gift is ready to share with you.
We are word gatherers.