The night

[Kate]

It is snowing again; big, soft fluffy-looking flakes that make a body feel all cozy when the air is still & quiet... the brilliant colors of the Christmas lights are muted under the snow that has fallen before & seem much more gentle than they do in the cold light of day.

The house is welcoming with the comforting aromas of baking only to be found at Christmas, like those of chocolate & gingerbread. The fireplace mantle is resplendant with its array of holiday candles, & other odds & ends to make a person smile. The grate is waiting for a match.

The tree, a magnificent blue spruce, displays its new finery of various tones of silver & white baubles, while the little lights quietly change from an intense cobalt blue to hot pink, then to an icy mauve & finally a bright cherry red, causing a chameleon effect with the ornaments.

The cats keep watch from either corner of the room, snuggled in their temporary holiday blankets, on the backs of the furniture. They stir, yawning widely, as only cats can do, & then turn to stare out the window at the snow, then look at me, as if to ask 'why?' then gracefully change position & fall back asleep, hoping that if they ignore me, I will forget to toss them out for the night...

I wander my house, with only the tree lights for company, smiling at the twitching of the older dog, dreaming, I imagine, of burying the younger dog in a snowbank at the earliest possibility.
Speaking of the devil, the younger dog wanders down, seeking our comapnionship, & leans against me, seeking attention, as young dogs are wont to do, before curling up close to her mentor & best friend.

I sit for a few moments, hands wrapped around my teamug, curled up in a chair designed for two, & lay my head back to just absorb the night, & unwind from the trials & tribulations of the day.

'I could sleep here' I think, listening to the animals breathing, however I have become chilled, & will seek the refuge of my own bed, knowing that my faithful & constant companions, will soon follow, to fall asleep beside me, keeping me warm, & safe for the night, as they do every night, without fail.

There is something so soothing about a gentle snowfall, despite the fact that it will mean shovelling in the morning, & a great deal of care & attention on the roads. Somehow it softens the harshness of the world. If only for a little bit. Still, I am grateful to have had that brief time, where I felt included in its protection.

Somehow, a simple snowfall, gives me hope, although I am not knowing why, or how. And Lord knows, it is something I am in sore need of these days.

However, the hour grows late, & if I can get to bed before the animals pile upon me, I might manage to see out the window & let the big, soft-looking fluffy snowflakes, lull me to sleep...