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mom was the holiday keeper, then I took over the job, now tradition lives on.

kids so young
so carefree, so willed tongued
only a few dates mattered
each to their favorite one

a list never made
just a calendar hung on the wall
I don’t know how she
kept from missing
nor would she never forget
never did a special
slip by
a meal~n~everyone
carefully prepared

I never had to remind anyone
it was my birthday
all the year I was told
I was either to young
to old, wait and you can
when you get bigger
the day I would get older
there was always a birthday cake
presents to tide me over till another
gifted day

After Christmas when mom
took down all the decorations
the tree hidden away
till two weeks from
next year’s Christmas Day

soon company would be
coming~n~going
only a few would camp out to celebrate
the incoming New Year

Around the corner there would be a heart
full of chocolates and card
from two special people
mom~n~dad

The week before Good Friday
was near, we knew it wasn’t to far
away. A new outfit was bought
we could only wear to our friends house
then it was given away
A list was made of what we had
to eat, couldn’t eat until after Easter bunny
had hopped along our way
hide eggs in every
nook~n~corner
baskets filled with goodies
left while we dreamed
our life away
floating on
Cadbury cream clouds

our holiday keeper was
always on her toes
she always knew in between
hearts of red, Cadbury bunnies
there was day to make sure we wore
green
so you wouldn’t get pinched
kids could be so cruel

Then there was Memorial Day
flags, parade, food of every kind
true to the making of home
the one we own for this is the day
we stand up to show how proud
we are to be free, to specially honor those who died for
us for our freedom

it seemed Independence Day
came~n~went
soon the days would
lazily tick away till one
day

firework stands would
pop up everywhere
dad would buy a few
mom and I would watch
the show, the sky glow

Then came Labor Day
no one knew why that
one came to be
the only labor I knew
was swimming, eating
and laughing, it was cool
to get to throw the dishes away.
sad we had to pack our summer clothes
in moth filled chest

but costume was being chosen
grandmother had her sewing machine
humming a tune along with hers
soon I was whatever I wanted to be
reminded of my manners to say
please, thank, don’t go into the house
and keep track of your buddy
we went along to trick~r~treat
into the dusky night

excitement filled the air
soon it would be
Turkey Day aromas of
spices filled your soul

company came you haven’t seen
in awhile they would pat you
and the head and smile
how big you’ve gotten since
I last saw you
your standing there wondering
who are you

mom would rescue us
before we completed the
questionnaire
send the kids off into our own little world
adult conversations
where not meant for children’s
ears, or watch the grownups
have too many martinis or beer

we weren’t suppose to see
daddy pat mama on the butt

Our holiday keeper would remind us
in her own subtle way
by making sure I was
with her, when she picked out
her mother a card
she made sure a list was in hand
dad would like for appreciation
on Father’s Day

she always made sure
there was a cake of
Uncle Sam, a poster hung up
of all our Presidents on
their very own
Day

if it were not for our
holiday keeper many would
have slipped away