We’d arrive at Grandpa’s on Friday night
Pulling into the driveway and seeing the living room light
Our cousins eyes filled with delight
Some Aurelio’s pizza and 50/50 and then off to play
Or create art for the picture sale
Aunt Lori would tell the girls to get in their jammies
Grandpa’s house meant Christmas, but not only Christmas
Downtown on Christmas Eve
Two level bookstores and escalators galore
Seeing Grandpa behind the counter at Carson’s with Judy
Waiting not so patiently for Dad to get the car
Opening one gift that night
Getting dressed and the drive to Ruth’s
With Dad’s Christmas mix in the cassette player
How was that all one day
Lasagna and laughter
The church service after
And a Greek restaurant
Eyes straining to keep open
The skies always shaded red on the way back
Did Santa already arrive
But no, we hustled to bed and fast asleep
Seven or eight we’d crack the door and peep
All the presents that he delivered
By ten they’d all be in a pile
It wasn’t just Christmas, that place
Mischief, the terrifying cat
I once left the TV on the Playboy channel
Trying to see things through the scramble
It was Grandpa yelling “GET OUT OF MY CHAIR!”
Sending his grandchildren running everywhere
It was everything to us and then it was gone
