Whims to wish upon Aim for the star beyond reach Ask for directions

Sleep comes easier now. The voices, for the time being, are tired of listening to themselves. Even the most ardent fans of nightmares–Guilt, Shame, and Regret–have turned on the morning light and refuse to look into the shadows. Short-lived respite, this. A truce of sorts has been called between this world and the next. No…

  Tables turn quicklyChipped a tooth on the time crunchSent Christmas the bill

  12 plays a-written by Ms. Oates7 Barbarians forgettin' to get religionEdgar's nightmares, too many to count,ripen on the shelf. And though you can't see him,a naughty macaque is high-kickin'like a Rockette dressed in heelsand a big golden bow. Ah, the magic! Tradition! An embarrassing holiday admission!It is all harmless fun until the monkey digs…

  juicy fruitplasticsweet syrupimitationholiday cheerfake

Pine aroma lingers though the wax and wick have slipped into oblivion. Now is not the season to go without a flame. Blame it on burnout. Holiday staples have yet to be bought. Gifts on the way but the tree needs trimming. Cranberries and popcorn wait for needle and thread to wed them. December rituals. Pick…

  Tend to appearances:the bruisesthe hair that gets thin and brittle. Handle all those inconveniences:the shrinking waistbandthe scratches and scars. Revel in the nonsense:the friendly advicethe wrong words everyone says. Just when people take an interest is when the attention is no longer needed.

Six ideas sit on the tip of each blade of my candy apple pinwheel. The contraption, constructed of misty visions and concrete poured by a previous owner, is designed to delight the masses for a ha'penny and a song. The wily spinner will swallow your golden goose, stuffed with holly and bonfire, if you forget…

  We've come to the sit-and-wait phase. A distinct advantage, we think, over the Rush-Right-In'ers and Roll-Right-Overs. We get to see the ever-changing patterns on the wall tell their seasonal stories, like "The One-Way Gravy Boat to Turkey." We are ever mindful of the lumps. Not so the Grab-and-Dashers who care more about second helpings than…

Roll with that proposal. Don't over think it. Let the message sink in. The worry, the handwringing, the sleepless nights are all just roadblocks to avoid what's right. A roundabout with no way out. Hover above the chaos and concentrate on the work. Little steps lead to opportunities in disguise.