these are happy times.

they started way back when the season brought in people, allowed emotions to be displayed, erased the tension (i was too little to understand what it was) and they stayed at home. people laughed. there were people. no sitting on the sidewalk, no falling asleep on the stairs, no doing time in the local milk booth, no fighting like little savages to ward off terror, no waiting patiently, no sitting alone in the dark wondering...

the sparkling people came and stayed and smiled and sang -- with us.

i discovered what a stellar thing people are. actual real people who look at you and smile and cry and sometimes give you candies and shiny things and pick you up and give you hugs. they smelt so good, they didn't even mind when the giggling wouldn't stop. it just seemed fair to make them laugh a bit. and i discovered what a stellar craft clowning is. laughing people can't be angry or sad and thereby saved me from being either.

been in love with christmas since. been in love with people since. been in love with laughter since. even when it erupted as i inadvertently mooned a full funeral party by deciding to forgo bloomers in favour of snoopy underpants which simply fell off. (a little boy's brief was hastily bought to repair the situation.)

one day i'll learn not to need all of this. i will cherish you without a need. till then, if you smile at me, i'll call you a friend. if you put your arm around me, i'll give you a piece of my heart. i'll walk with you, i'll give you my dreams and i'll keep clowning till your shades are banished forever.

merry christmas people. my people.