Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner

Anticipation builds when a decorate-able holiday approaches. Eggs are hung from trees, reindeer are bolted to roofs, carved jack-o-lanterns are set at the door. The decor reminds our salivary glands of  the marshmallow Peeps, chocolate-filled gold coins, and spiced pumpkin pie to come. So, we decorate to the nines. We cook for days, then stuff our bellies full.

But before the football game’s over, it’s time to clean up and undeck-the-halls. The dried up boughs of holly get tossed, the spent candles are pitched, and the turkey carcass is made into soup. After Halloween, the skeleton is stuffed back into the closet – but, as in my case, only once he’s had the last word:

“Gather your vampires, witches, and bats,
Spiders, ghosties, and arch-backed black cats
Put them together with the goblins and ghouls,
Then load them up high on the backs of pack mules.
Or store them in boxes way up in your attic!”
The skeleton in my closet was downright emphatic. Continue reading →