.
The tree with lights that I could see used to be where the fuller tree in the front of the photo, next to the flag.Now, the past few years, there is a temporary tree that you can see behind that tree. That is the tree I can see from my living room window. The photo is taken looking back towards my house a short block away up.
.
Missing.
What can Hard Hearted Hannah
miss ?
.
I read of others “missings“
(and I know that’s not a real word…
I made it up)
with my cat, Bianca,
on my lap,
“Weirdest Christmas” decorations
on TV:
I started to think….
.
And the first thing that came
to mind:
right outside my window:
the Little Christmas Tree
in the small park
(it used to be to be
the “little Christmas Tree”
but the park is named
for “Donald Little”. Sigh. ).
.
In the mid-1970’s,
the economy was in the dumpers,
inflation had gone up 17%
that year…had just gotten a divorce,
worked 3 jobs. I guess this
is where thoughts started flowing in:
remembering my daughter stating,
“the only traditions we had for
holidays was ‘mother worked’ “
.
My memory of that year,
is how dark and dreary it was.
There were not any lights on outside
decorations that year, and
the little tree was not decorated or have lights…
I didn’t realize how in a few short years,
I’d become fond of seeing it as I drove by,
and could see it from my living room window.
.
Hope they put it up this year…
I’m watching for it.
.
At the same time,
the stars on Bridge Hill above
the river were not lit either.
A five pointed star and the Star of David
would be shining with lights on appropriate
holidays…you could see them
for miles and I knew where
I could see them from
and always looked for them.
Now,
they are no longer there,
I look for them,
and miss seeing them
shining alone or
together in unity,
depending on the date
of a holiday.
I look for them every year
in vain.
I miss seeing them.
.
On a less serious note…
but it is serious
for those who looked
forward to them…
the books of rolls
of lifesavers that you
could by for a dollar or less
…everyone, including
Lewis, my ghost, …
yes, he has a stocking…
would have Lifesavers
.
Hard Heart Hannah,
heart softened during
a “senior moment.” 
.
=============
For me, I decided to go less serious
than my original notes that I wrote while trying
to figure out what I could possibly “miss.”
The prompt is a wonderful one…one I can muse over and
gather fodder for more to write about in the future.
.
.
siggiofmaine 
brian miller
nice…we used to get those books of lifesavers….and there is def some missing in the anticipation of what is coming…and realizing as well that somethings wont return this year….just like last year…..smiles.
Claudia Schönfeld
smiles…thanks for sharing a bit of your story…and sometimes we only realize that we miss something if it’s not there again..Hard Heart Hannah,
heart softened during
a “senior moment.”…smiles..i like
John (@bookdreamer)
Some nice clear memories of a past now gone except in memories
pandamoniumcat
Those simple things, are sometimes the one we miss the most. Nice poem.
Lázaro Rojas
I really enjoyed this piece. So honest and real. I especially liked the following line:
remembering my daughter stating,
“the only traditions we had for
holidays was ‘mother worked’ “
So much in there. I imagine the sound and potential pain and confusion in the voice of the daughter.